March Madness? How about March Gladness. . .in Jesus Christ

Do you like church signs? I love to read them. Each carries a serious message (like the one depicted in this image). Here are some others: "To be almost saved is to be totally lost," "If God had a refrigerator your picture would be on it," "How will you spend eternity--smoking or nonsmoking?" "Caution, Exposure to the son may prevent burning"). I saw one the other day driving to work. It read, "Jesus is March Gladness." How fitting, how accurate, how joyful. However, we often place our happiness, joy, our gladness in other things, hoping these temporal things will bring us satisfaction. Rather, our complete satisfaction comes from our Lord, even in times of trials

The truth behind this sign's message became even more relevant to me with the illness of a wonderful man, Ricky Adams.

We as a church have been on our knees for a couple of days. Ricky, his wife Rhonda, and their sweet family are experiencing a thorn in the flesh that Paul describes in 2 Corinthians. Ricky has a rare but advanced form of the H1N1 virus, so advanced that according to the Doctors normal treatment won't work. He has been in the hospital for two days now and is on a respirator to provide him with oxygen. This family is such an inspiration to me and others. A family with a stronger faith you will never find, a family who sees Jesus as Gladness 24/7/365. Don't get me wrong; they struggle like the rest of us: they have worried, they have been anxious, they have been impatient, they have questioned. But in all that, never have they lost faith, never have they doubted God's sovereign goodness and divine Will. They live out what the Psalmists writes in 27:13, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." I am writing this blog post for Ricky, Rhonda, Hannah, and Sara, and all extended family to encourage and edify them in this very difficult time, and to glorify Him who freely gives us His mercy and grace so that we can rest in Him, His strength, His power, His gladness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

In the chapter, "I Can Turn Your Triumph into Victory: God's Promises in Burial Clothing," from Max Lucado's He Chose the Nails, he details the account of Joseph or Arimathea and Nicodemus preparing the body of Christ for burial and he explains that from John's perspective, this Saturday was marked by sadness and tragedy. I love what Max says about John, "because he loved him, he stayed near him." He then quotes Romans 8:28: "in everything God works for the good of those who love him." He challenges us to replace the word "everything" with our own symbol of tragedy:

in parent abandonment, God works for the good.
in divorce, God works for the good.
in loss of job, God works for the good.
in a prison term, God works for the good.
in illness, God works for the good.
in death, God works for the good.

With the tragedy of Saturday, what always follows is the victory and triumph of Sunday. John loved Christ; therefore, he stayed near him. No matter the circumstance we need to focus on Christ. Be near to Him because we love Him. Touch the hem of His garment, linger near the tomb, hold on to the nail pierced hands, stay close to the burial garments. Christ brings hope, healing and restoration, for He is good, all of the time. Psalm 31:7-8 reads,

I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.

And in 1 Peter 5:10,

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

How beautiful, what hope, what joy, for He (as James 1:2-4 also teaches) is perfecting us, bringing us to maturity. Christ our Lord is without a doubt, March Gladness. Ricky, Rhonda, Hannah, and Sara (and the rest of the family), may God's peace overwhelm you, may His grace supply you, and His strength comfort you.