Some words and thoughts about my brother Jason

-It's Friday morning and Jason's alarm goes off.  Time to get up and go to work.  While driving into work, Jason may of been thinking about the coming weekend, about what they were all going to do.

-It's Friday at lunch, the work day is almost done, Jason may have thought about getting off of work a little early so he could pick up both kids.

-It's Friday afternoon, Jason walks out of his work building, out to his car, and drives down the road.

Then, in just a moment, in just a second, it was all over.  That Friday morning when Jason woke up, he had no idea that it was his last morning here.  That he wouldn't be returning home that evening.  That it was his last day at work.  His last day here.  Just that very Sunday before, as myself, my wife and my children had lunch with Jason and his family, I had no idea that that would be the last time that I would see him, eat with him, talk with him, laugh with him, ... on this side of eternity.  In that very moment on the road, Jason went from our time into eternity.

On the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 9th, 2002 while riding home from work on the bus, I was listening to some music.  A song started to play that I haven't listened to in at least a year, if not more.  I only let the song play for about a minute before I stopped it.  I couldn't listen to this song on the bus, as tears started to well up in my eyes, so I skipped forward to the next song.  Once to my bus stop, I got off the bus and started my 15 minute walk from the bus stop to my home.  It was fairly dark, on side streets, so I backed the music back to that song and listened through.  I played it several times before I got home.  That song is titled "When You Die", by one of my favorite Christian music artist, The Kry.  I've copied the lyrics of this song below for you read through them.  Also, the first two and a half minutes of the song are available for you to listen to (you'll need Real Player to listen to it).

 

When You Die - play (part of the song)
If your heart would beat only one more time
Do you know where you're going
when you breathe your last?
You can have the world falling at your feet
But what would it give you when you have to leave?

When the page is turned and the story told
It won't make a difference all the things you own
You can gain the world or a mine of gold
But what will it matter if you lose your soul?

You say: when I get older I'll turn around
I'll hold the hand of the Savior
Before I drown
But you don't
You don't know when you'll die
no you don't know when you'll die

You say: when my days are almost gone
I will give Him my life before I hit the ground
But you don't
You don't know when you'll die
You don't know when you'll die

Do you know your sin has been washed away
Do you know for certain that you know the way?
Don't reject the One who can save your soul
No one but Jesus gonna take you home

You can know before you die yes
you can know before you die
I sure hope you change your mind
'Cause you can know before you die

Mark 8:34-38, Hebrews 9:27-28, 1John 5:12-13

  

 

So, listening to (reading) this song, looking back on that Friday evening on October 19th when we got that phone call from my mom about Jason's death, and with the events of September 11th, it really sinks in.  You really don't know when you'll die.  You or I may not even see tomorrow, tonight, or even finish reading this very page.  When you got up this morning, did you think that today could be your last?  On that Friday morning, Jason couldn't have even imagined that that day was his last.  But now, every morning I wake up, I thank God for another day here like it's my last.  I don't put off some of those important things until tomorrow, like kissing my wife good bye and telling her that I love her in the morning before I head to work, like hugging my boy's Noah and Isaiah if there up before I leave, because that very morning could be the last one that they hear me tell them that I love them or for them to get a hug from me on this side of eternity.

So, without knowing for sure that we have tomorrow, today's the day for action.  At any moment, you're life could end and you'll go from this time directly into eternity.  Now, for me, that is not a scary thing to think about.  Actually, I long for that moment, to step into eternity and into the arms of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  But, for some, this is a scary thing to think about.  Why?  Well, do you know where you will go when you die?  Based on the Bible, there are only two places to go to, Heaven or Hell.  Of course, who would really want to go to Hell.  If you really think about, honestly, and read what the Bible says about Hell, it's the last place you want to go.  So, the question is how do you know if you will go to Heaven?  There are many that will say that if you're good enough, that you will to Heaven.  Well, that does sound good doesn't?  But, if that were true, then how good is good enough for you to go to Heaven?  I'm not going to attempt to answer that question on my own, but there is a web page that does answer this question much better than I could even attempt to.  If you would spend the five to ten minutes right now that it takes to read though it, I would greatly appreciate it.  Am I good enough to go to Heaven?  What do you have to loose, a few minutes of your day.  Really, it only takes a few minutes to read through it.  I won't bug you to read it if you don't, but if you not going to, why?

Would you like to know God personally, like I do and have the assurance that I have that when I die I will go to Heaven?  The following comes from our old Church, Calvary Fellowship's web page.

Do you want to know God?

We are really glad you came to this part of our web site.  It is our sincere desire that you come to know God. You are not here by chance.  Perhaps it was mere curiosity that brought you here or even a genuine desire to really know the God who both made and loves you.   Yes God loves you, and He brought you here to make a decision today.  If your decision is to know Him then follow the steps below.      

  1. Admit your spiritual need. We are all sinners....people don't always like that title. The one word that defines all sin is the Greek word "harmatia" which means "to miss the mark." What is God's mark? Jesus said, "Be perfect as My Father in heaven is perfect." Unless a person is perfect, he has missed the mark; therefore, he is a sinner. Romans 3:23 states "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
  2. What is the result of sin? In Romans 6:23 we read "The wages of sin is death..." Every one of us has missed God's mark. Every one of us falls short of being perfect. We are getting only what we deserve, and we are bringing judgment upon ourselves. One thing we need to remember is that God never sends anyone to hell. We send ourselves there by rejecting His truth.
  3. Since we can never measure up to God's standards on our own, God has reached out to man. We cannot solve the problem of sin, but God, who is perfect, can and has. He has become a bridge for us. John 3:16-17 states "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.." In Romans 5:8 we read, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
  4. If a person acknowledges that he is a sinner, and he accepts the promise that Christ is the solution, he is at a crossroads. Either the person must reject God's solution and accept the consequences, or he must accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. What must a person do to accept this gift? Simply receive it! Matthew 11:28-30 states "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me...for My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
  5. His invitation is clear. We must come to Him. All that remains is a response. In Romans 6:23 we read "...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What do we have to do to receive that gift? Take it! Revelation 3:20 states "Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, seeking entrance into our lives. John 1:12 states "For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God." If you would like to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life right now, pray a prayer something like this from the sincerity of your heart...

    Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You. Amen"

    If you just prayed that prayer and really meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Not only that, but he has forgiven you of all your sin. The Bible tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) God also promises, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12)

Your decision to receive Christ also means that you are now going to Heaven one day. That's a lot to be thankful for! You need to take some practical steps to grow strong spiritually: read the Bible, pray, and go to church.

That's basically all that I (Eric) have to say right now.  I do greatly miss my brother Jason, and even as I write this, I'm wiping the tears from my eyes.  But, Jesus gives me the strength and comfort to continue and make it through each day.  I pray that you too will seek Jesus and get your strength from Him, to know that when your time comes (which could be at any moment) that you will be with Jesus in Heaven for all of eternity.  If you're looking for a good Church, myself and my family (Jen, Noah and Isaiah) attend Calvary Chapel Eastside which meets every Sunday morning at 9 and 11 AM in Bellevue, Washington at the cafeteria of Bellevue Community College.  Our Church is part of Calvary Chapel, of which there are many, many more resources for you there and directions to a Calvary Chapel that may be in your home area.  Also, if you don't have a Bible of your own to read there is a great online Bible at Blue Letter Bible for you read.

Posted: Sunday, January 13th, 2002