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God’s Lemonade

Lori Smith, Papua New Guinea

As missionaries, we get the rare privilege at times to see God work in and through incredible, even miraculous, situations on an almost daily basis. Part of being on the front lines of service is seeing the base reality, good and evil, up close and personally. Our lives are interwoven between seeing blessings and hardships so often that the two often do seem inseparable. Perhaps it is the epitome of seeing God make lemonade from lemons as His plan unfolds before our eyes.

When we are totally out of control and we see God make choices we would not have the foresight or fortitude to make, our view of God changes. The reality of how great He is and the magnitude of His eternal plan becomes a tonic for the heartaches we feel as we battle—aches bred by our limited minds and human emotions.

This month was the greatest challenge I have experienced personally, spiritually, emotionally, and professionally as a missionary nurse. We lost a patient. But thankfully, this young man is not really lost: he is still fully in the wonderful plan and presence of his loving heavenly Father. However, for us still here on Earth, it was a great loss.

This young man, just in the prime of his life, was not sick, nor did we have any indication of a problem he may have been facing. He simply went to bed in a grass hut with a dirt floor and awoke in the unfathomable splendor of glory. When they brought his blue, limp body to us, we couldn’t believe it. He was an awesome kid in the youth group. His testimony was incredible. God was using his life to touch many others because when the gospel message was brought to his village, he responded. The miraculous transformation of salvation was being accomplished in and through him. He was being discipled and prepared to lead the next generation of Christians.

With every compression and each breath of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, my heart was hurt and confused: why him, God? Why now? We need him for the future ministry here! When we finally acknowledged that our efforts were really in vain (he was already with the Lord), God's peace came in an almost audible form. Yes, he was the right one; he was ready to meet his Lord and Savior. His death was an important reminder for both the unsaved and believers that life is truly a vapor. We all must be ready to meet the Lord at any instant and use each and every waking moment to further His Kingdom as we may truly not have tomorrow.

As is no surprise to God, this precious young man remains as much a testimony after his death as he was in his life. He now ultimately has become the picture of what missions is all about: preparing people for the ultimate future—their eternal future. This great young man was fully ready.

May we never forget how refreshing lemonade can be.