Many of you knew that my dad’s health had been declining the past few weeks. I appreciate your prayers and notes for him and my family. I wanted to update you today and let you know that on February 19th my dad passed peacefully from this life to the next.

It’s been a week filled with a range of emotions, as waves of both sadness and thankfulness pass over me: sadness at the loss, and thankfulness for his life, and the life he poured into mine.

As I sat beside him on the day that he finally passed away, I realized quite clearly that he was no longer “here,” but was now in the “hereafter.” His body that had served him well for 84 years was simply a container for the real treasure that was contained within. It reminded me of the passage in the Bible that talks about the treasure that lies within jars of clay. Paul writes:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Paul was talking about the light of Christ that lived within them, and how it shined through them, even though outwardly they were wasting away. Even though they faced incredible difficulties in this life, they still had hope because of Christ. Paul went on to say:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Paul had a hope that couldn’t be killed, even in the face of what could have otherwise been unbearable circumstances.

It is that same hope that I want to extend to you today. A hope that goes beyond what can be seen with your eyes. A hope for a future that is not just dreamed up to help us get through life, but a hope that was promised by the living and breathing Jesus Christ Himself to all those who have put their faith in Him. Jesus said:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

Paul, who faced more trouble than perhaps any of the other apostles, had this hope. Even though he had been beaten with rods, flogged, stoned, shipwrecked, left for dead, hungry, thirsty, cold and naked, Paul was still able to say:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

In view of eternity, Paul was able to call his troubles here on earth “light and momentary.” He knew that as important as this life is, it is still fleeting and temporary compared to eternity. If Paul--with all he had to endure--could look at life this way, how much more should I be able to look at life this way as well.

Whatever you’re facing today, don’t lose heart. Remember that we’re all just “jars of clay,” and though outwardly you may be wasting away, inwardly God can be renewing you day by day. As hard as things may be for you right now, they are “light and momentary” troubles compared with eternity, and they can achieve for you an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Keep trusting in God and keep trusting in Christ. He really will come back for you one day to take you to be with Him where He is. Keep putting your faith in Christ for everything in your life.

Let’s pray...

Father, thank You for the hope You’ve give me in Christ. Help me to focus on Him today, for I know that what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Fill me with the Your hope so that I won’t lose heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

P.S. Thanks again for your prayers for me and my family. They mean so much to me. I also wanted to let you know that the paperback version of my study on “Nehemiah: Lessons In Faith” is now available on Amazon.com. I finished the book the night before my dad died, and I wrote out the dedication to him, knowing he may not be with us much longer. It says:

“To my Dad, Robert Howell Elder, who laid the foundation upon which I’m now rebuilding.”

It was he who spent the majority of his life working on the home in which we all lived, the same home which we are now converting into the Clover Ranch retreat center. When I look at the work still ahead of me to finish the project, I’m thankful all the work that my dad did to lay the foundation for what I’m doing now.

If you’d like a copy of “Nehemiah: Lessons In Rebuilding,” you can order one here:
theranch.org/The-Ranch-Giftshop.361.0.html

If you’d like to make a donation toward the renovation of Clover Ranch, you can make one here. Just write “Clover Ranch” on the comment line. Thanks so much!
theranch.org/Make-A-Donation.359.0.html