Like a Vapor!

Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Psalm 39:5

This past week God took our brother Chuck Lane home to be where his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dwells (John 17:24).  I can only imagine the first word he said when he met His Savior… GLORY!

Chuck and Rachel became members of Grace Harvest in January of 2013. In January of 2014, Rachel became my administrative assistant. From the very beginning, as a member of Grace Harvest, Chuck was a man who took the command seriously to love his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was known for his heart of service and commitment to the teaching of the Word of God.

The Elders and I recognized God’s calling on his life and asked him to begin teaching Sunday school at Grace Harvest. Many of you have benefited from his gift of teaching and encouragement. He always saw the best in people, especially his church family. He went on a mission trip with me to Uganda. During this trip, I saw a man who put others before himself in words and actions. His love for the Lord showed through even in the most stressful situations during that trip to Africa.

On January 4, 2015, Chuck was ordained as a deacon. Then on January 21, 2018, he was ordained as an Elder of Grace Harvest. He loved to serve the body any way that he could, always putting others before himself.

Chuck taught me many things, but the most important lesson I learned from him was humility. One of the traits that I admired most about Chuck was his genuine humility. If you know Chuck, you know that he would deflect any praise from himself to the Lord or others. He never made it about himself.

We will all miss our brother but I take comfort in Paul’s words,

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark