hope secured

It is tempting to say about my friend who died, "You can't keep a good man down." As much as I respected him, that would not be perfectly accurate. If that statement is wholly true, it is only true about Jesus Christ, because there has never been anyone who was truly, thoroughly, spotlessly good... not in and of themselves, anyway. And when I hear that phrase, my mind is drawn to the Lord's resurrection. Yes, then it would be true: you can't keep a good man down.

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But folks, we have this theological whatchamajiggit called "imputation" which basically says that Jesus (who never sinned) took sin upon himself to pay the penalty for all who believe in him. He answered for it in a legal sense, even though he did not actually commit any of that sin. Got it?

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There is a flipside of the imputation. Just as our sins were charged to Jesus Christ, the Lord's righteousness then covers those who belong to Him. His people are legally covered with the perfect righteousness that Jesus lived and earned. That is how the Lord presents to himself a "spotless bride." That is the reason we can be confident that Alan Haymaker is experiencing paradise today. And that is why our grieving is only temporary.

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Wanna smoke some brain cells? Think about the imputation for a while. Ponder it, and try to wrap your mind on the unfairness (to God) of it all. See if you can agree with John Newton that God's grace (unmerited favor) is amazing.

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"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope."

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (New Living Translation)

alan haymaker

Downcast and heavy hearted, I am processing some shocking information.

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I drove to work Monday morning, knowing that the roads were slippery on account of new snow, but I took my time. I arrived to work twenty minutes late, which is very unusual for me, but they allow a "soft start" on days with heavy snow. That means we are allowed to take our time to get in safely, and we can make up the time later.

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The snow was heavy and the streets were slushy, but there was beauty all around. In the evening, I had to pull over a few times to set up a tripod and take pictures.

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Today I learned that yesterday morning's snow took the life of a friend of mine. He was a Chicago Police sergeant, responding to a burglary in the early morning.

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http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/accident-closes-southbound-lanes-of-lake-shore.html

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He was a fellow home schooler... that's how I knew him. He worked hard to keep people safe, and today he is safe in the presence of Christ. Still, I find myself weeping... it was too soon. It hurts to know he's gone. I can't even imagine how his wife and kids feel.

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All of the sudden, I find myself wishing yesterday's snow would just melt. It is not pretty to me any more. Instead, I want rain. Lots of rain to rinse these present landscapes, refresh my heart, and hide the tears. Please... let it rain.