Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do What is Just?

Many of you know what my family is going through right now, but for those of you who don't I feel like I might be able to be a bit of encouragement through this trial.

My grandfather is dying.

My grandfather is 92 years old and has been suffering the decline of Alzheimer's for over ten years. The last five or six have been particularly bad. It has been ages since he's been able to communicate in anything that resembles lucidity. He's fortunate enough to have been blessed with a huge family that have been diligent to care for him in his time of need. Well, for the last few days, he has been in the hospital and, without belaboring the description, it looks like he's in his final days (days if we're lucky - hours is more likely).

It's really strange to talk about my grandfather this way. His name is Francisco Martinez. He was a shoemaker in Ecuador and though he was working too hard providing for his family to enjoy his children and shower them with affection (nine children), he did exactly that with his grand-children.

Though he seems to have forgotten nearly everyone, it wasn't until recently that he was unable to recognize my grandmother.

My grandfather was a sinner. A significant one. But my intention is not to draw attention to my grandfather's shortcomings. They are several. They are irrelevant.

Shortly before my grandfather's mind completely went, my aunt shared the gospel with him. We all believe that his reception of it was genuine and sealed his salvation in Christ.

Had it not been for that information (which I only received yesterday), this blog post would be completely different in nature. Instead of taking comfort in the righteousness of God, ("Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" Genesis 18:25), I am, in exceeding joy and thankfulness, taking comfort in God's mercy, grace, and faithfulness.

The gospel is not just an offer - it commands. It commands we respond. It commands we respond with reception. Now, it is only a matter of time for the Lord to call his chosen home. The Lord is far better than my grandfather, or I, deserve. He truly is worthy to be praised!

A few verses that have been a refuge and strength for me these last two days:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength;" Habakkuk 3:17-19

"Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. " Hebrews 10: 19-23

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God... we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved." Romans 8: 18-19; 23-24

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35 -39