Eunice P. Knott - with Christ which is far better
Carl's dear mother Eunice P. Knott (1928-2020), passed into the presence of the Lord on October 1st, at 92 years of age, after a bout with Covid-19. We love her and miss her already. But our sorrow is not like that of people who have no hope. It's real, but different, because as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, she is with the Lord! Scripture says that for believers in Christ, dying is to be absent from the body and be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), and to be with Christ is far better (Philippians 1:23).
But her heavenly home is glorious and eternal. No tears, no sickness, no night in that beautiful home of light.
We bless her memory, and sorrow because we love her and will not see her again in this life. But as believers in Christ, our sorrow is mitigated by the grace and promises of God in His Word. She has been promoted to the glorious presence of the Lord, while we remain in this valley of tears. We do not wish that she return, but that the Lord come soon and take all believers to be with Him. Meanwhile, the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit -- the Comforter -- give us encouragement.
Mom kept a cabinet full of literature - tracts and books - near the front door, ready to give out, and was always giving people Christian literature. About two months ago while speaking with her from Spain by phone, she expressed a desire to witness to all who live in her neighborhood, by giving a gospel tract and booklet to each home. So we ordered the plastic bags used for hanging literature on doors, and also ordered the gospel booklets. She put the tracts and booklets in the bags, and was looking for some people in the area to do the actual distribution for her, since she used a walker and was unable to do it. We were impressed by her concern for her neighbors, and her desire at 92 to reach them again with the gospel. May the Lord raise up someone to actually complete the distribution for her, and may He bless that testimony.
"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him" (2 Samuel 22:31).
Now we invite any reader who is not prepared to face death and pass into eternity, to reflect on his need for forgiveness from sin and eternal life through Christ. Death entered the world because of sin. It is an enemy and cannot be defeated except through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, 11:25, we read the words of Christ: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". Faith is not believing things/facts about Christ, but actually believing/trusting in Him, the one who died at Calvary to pay the death penalty for us because of our sins. He bore our sins in His own body on the cross and suffered in our place, so that all who trust in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Are you one of these people, like Mom, who trusts in Christ as Lord and Savior, and is prepared for eternity?
The Christian can say as David did in the 23rd Psalm, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me." Unless Jesus Christ is your Shepherd, your Savior, you will enter that valley alone, with none to help. Religion, church membership, good works, sacraments and philosophy will be useless in that valley. Eunice was ready because the Lord was with her, and now she has passed through that valley and is with Him forever. How will it be with you, dear reader?
