| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “What the world needs now” Our Bible verse for today: “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (CSB) Our thought for today: “In the end, love wins” Last night my sister, Helen, died. She was only fifty-four and it was a sad ending to a sad life. Helen lived a rough life, a tragic life filled with mistakes and bad choices. She hurt a lot of people, none more than her daughters who for the most part, hardly knew her. She left them when they were quite young and it was only in the last ten years that any relationship at all was reestablished, but even that was infrequent and superficial. But mostly, Helen hurt herself. She was a deeply unhappy person who was unhealthy on many levels and in many ways. There was mental illness, to be sure. There were multiple chronic lifestyle choices that destroyed her health including heavy smoking, drinking large volumes of full-sugar Coca-Cola every day for years on end, lots of junk food, no exercise, and even homelessness. Finally, her body gave out. She ended up in ICU in a hospital in Chattanooga, TN on a ventilator and heavily sedated for more than a week. Until finally, yesterday, we had to disconnect the life support and just let her go. It was a premature death and a sad ending to a sad life. Except, that it wasn’t. Not entirely. There was an element to the end of her life that was not sad but which was actually a cause for joy. In recent years Helen professed faith in Jesus Christ several times, but I don’t think it was real. At least, there was little discernable evidence that it was real. But several months ago, during a visit with her, I noticed a significant change. She seemed different, peaceful. Her self-absorption and preoccupation with herself and with her own problems and issues had dissipated significantly and she was genuinely interested in me and in others. She seemed calmer and expressed regret for all the bad choices and all the harm she had caused. She talked about the love she had for her family and how proud she was of her daughters. She once again professed faith in Christ and this time, I believe it was real. Two months ago, she even traveled from Tennessee to New Jersey to see her daughters and to meet her granddaughters for the first time. As I sat there with her yesterday and into the evening as she slowly faded away, I couldn’t help but reflect on how it is that love often wins out in the end. In Helen’s case the love of Jesus finally broke through (just in the nick of time) and Helen had a couple of good months to do some important repairing of relationships. But in terms of love winning in the end, I’m especially proud of my nieces. They among any others in Helen’s world have been hurt deeply, badly, over the course of decades. And they more than any others could understandably be bitter and they could have shunned her. Instead, they welcomed her back into their lives, they expressed their love for her, and once she passed, they posted pictures and narratives (happy pictures and happy narratives) about their mother. It has been amazing to watch and I am very proud of them. You see, if we allow it to, love will win in the end. The love of Jesus is a powerful thing. It will change us and it will have a powerful, positive impact on those around us. Love will win if we will only allow it to. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
| Copyright © 2025 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Oak Hill Baptist Church 3036 Genesis Road Crossville, TN 38571 |
- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 
So sorry for your loss. I am glad Helen found the Lord Jesus. If not but for the grace of God, there goes I.
I was sinking deep in sin…..But God. Hallelujah.
Amen to that. Thank you, Donna.
Beautifully written. And so true of so many families. We need to keep on loving til the end. Our memories will be so much better.
(yes, I’m behind 🙃).
Thank you Jo. I pray that you and yours are well.