Praying for J.J. and Melanie Jasper

By: Steve Huston

In the light of the tragic death of young Cooper Jasper, 5 year old son of J.J. Jasper, one of the magnificent voices of American Family Radio, I wanted to take a moment to say that such tragedies shake us to our very core and remind us of what really IS important.

Life is precious – including and especially eternal life! These little ones are precious treasures to us and when they are suddenly gone there is a void.  I can attest to that.  Yet, what comfort when we know they are truly in Him.

Having lost a fifteen month old baby granddaughter Cassie Hope to an unexpected death just last August 17, 2008, I know all too well how life gets turned upside down in a twinkling of an eye.

As I continue in life and ministry and see all of the tugs and pulls and battles and how the lines are increasingly being drawn, none of us knows where our great nation is heading. (It doesn’t look very good right now.) And what about our friends and loved ones?

Most of us have strong opinions on one side or the other – that’s for sure.  I fear for our nation – for the families and people of this nation.  There is great division.  The fissures of division seem to get deeper and wider with each passing week.

With the passing of baby Cassie Hope, I saw my family come together as never before in love and unity.

One of the beautiful things that I saw first hand was the beauty of the church rising up and getting together and behind those wracked by grief and indescribable pain.  Love is poured out, tears are shed. Sacrifices are made! There is a oneness as each one comes together no matter what their political persuasion.

Nonetheless, so many tears are shed and the days pass away and healing comes though the pain of the loss of such a tender young one will never go away this side of heaven.

And the cultural divisions don’t seem to go away either.  One thing that I believe God has called me to in my loss is to love those who are in opposition.  By His grace, may that happen more and more.

By God’s grace I will love those who hate the Gospel and its principles that uphold the preciousness of life at all ages and stages.

I will love those who detest the narrowness of Truth. “I am the way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”
John 14:6

I need His help (and so do you) to walk that balance of Truth and Grace.

Ultimately, is love not sharing the Gospel (Truth) with those who don’t know Him just to maintain peace?  Absolutely not!

Our pastor stated recently “If you read the obituaries in the Grand Rapids Press, you get the impression that everybody is in Christ. What a falsehood.”  If a person goes to the grave without confessing their sins and believing in the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are not saved.

There is a line in the sand between Heaven and Hell.

It’s part of the human dilemma that we face and one of the marks of our reality.  We live in a fallen world.  We need to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  John 3:16.  Do YOU know Him?

Truth and grace! Both are desperately needed.  We can’t do it without the help of our Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Join me in these days ahead praying for J.J. and Melanie Jasper and their young family.
http://afr.net/
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The following hymn was played at Cassie’s funeral last August 20, 2008.

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“My Anchor Holds”

Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest-driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
That can evermore endure.

Refrain:
And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

Mighty tides about me sweep,
Perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
For my anchor grips the rock.

I can feel the anchor fast
As I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, though unseen,
Bears the heavy strain between;
Through the storm I safely ride,
Till the turning of the tide.

Troubles almost ‘whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

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