I had it in my heart to share something last year on the anniversary of his passing, didn’t, and then forgot about it until this year. One of the silver linings that came out of the darkest storm cloud I’ve ever known in my life was the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with friends and loved ones at Corey’s memorial service. Today marks 11 years since the day we brought closure to Corey’s life here on this earth with his service and laid his body to rest. I’ve always struggled to talk about my faith with boldness with those who are indifferent to God and speaking in front of a large group of people also has never been on my list of regular activities. This day 11 years ago though it was different. If anyone had asked me a week, a month or years earlier, I never would’ve thought I’d have the strength to offer a eulogy about my husband and to share the life changing news about the Jesus I love and seek to follow. I know with certainty that it wasn’t my strength but God’s strength in me that day. He put it clearly on my heart to speak as a way to honor Corey and as a way to hopefully bring new life to someone else through Corey’s tragic death. Jesus offers us new life in him and God is all about bringing redemption in people’s lives through his son Jesus Christ. He has done that in countless ways in my life.
I rewatched some of his service the other day and though it was hard and brought tears it was confirmation for me that all I believed that day is still the truth I cling to today. God never changes and He is still so, so good and he really wants a relationship with each of us. Maybe you were there that day or maybe we didn’t even know each other yet; however, I’d love to share my message - God’s message - with you again. I do need to tell you that most of the video is me sharing through tears. It kind of almost seems wrong to share the gospel (which means ‘good news’) with people while crying, but I trust you understand what the circumstances were that day. If you'd rather have the Kleenex-free version without all the emotion, I have added the transcript for the video below if you'd prefer to read rather than view.
In addition, part of my desire to share this with you stems from what life has looked like for all of us this past year and a half. I don’t know about you but at times it seems this world we are living in has been turned upside down with the chaos of the pandemic. This life can be wearying, but Jesus has so much he wants to offer you in the midst of all this life can throw at you. He wants to give you peace, hope, love, joy, freedom, and most importantly the gift of his grace with an eternity spent with Him in heaven when you leave this life. If you have a few minutes and particularly if you don’t know what you believe about God and Jesus, would you let me share this message with you again? After you watch or read, please finish reading just below the video as I have a challenge for you ;-)
Jesus Christ walked this earth over 2000 years ago - that’s history folks and even secular (non-Christian) scholars who don’t believe the claims of Jesus will agree that he was a real person in history. If you’d like to know more about who Jesus is I’d like to challenge you to do some reading. The Bible is a life changing book and reading one of the gospels (the chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) is a great way to learn more about God and his plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Did you know the Bible is more than just a book of stories but is a very reliable, historically accurate document?
Here’s a short little article sharing some details about the historical authenticity of the Bible: https://www.thedestinlog.com/news/20170615/have-you-wondered-is-bible-historically-accurate
I recommend starting in the gospel book of John as it really looks closely at who Jesus was/is. You can read it online at:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=NLT
Another great resource is a book that Corey loved to share with people called, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. Strobel, formerly an investigative journalist, law student and avowed atheist explores the evidence to support the claims about who Jesus was. In memory and honor of Corey, I’d love to have a copy mailed to you if you’re interested in reading it. Please email me (snikersmccarthy@gmail.com) or PM me through Facebook with your address and I’ll get one mailed out to you.
Another book I will be reading when it hits the press next month is a book called Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace. Wallace, a cold case detective with over 25 years of experience investigates Jesus through history alone, explores how he changed the world as the most significant person in history and looks at why Jesus still matters today.
If you decide to accept the Bible reading challenge I’d love to pray for you as you’re reading! If you’re willing to share with me please send me a message.
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Video transcript:
Before I wrap up, I just want to share with you a little bit about the God that Corey and I know and love, since he has been such an integral part of both of our lives. I just want to say that our God is awesome, he is pure goodness. He is holy and he is sovereign- he has authority over everything including life and death. And I know that at a time like this it can be difficult to understand how he could be all of those things. How he could allow Corey’s untimely death at such a young age. How he could take Corey away from his family, his wife and 2 young children. But I want you to hear what I have to say.
God loves each of you - he loves each of us in ways that we can’t even express or fully understand. God took special care in creating us in his image – to reflect who he is in all of his beauty and grandeur. Genesis 1:27 reads “So God created man in His image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” God made us desiring that we would respond back to him with love. That we would love him and praise and worship Him for who he is, for how great he is. God didn’t create us to be robots who would love him back involuntarily. He wants us to know Him personally and He gave us his word, the Bible, so we could know him and have a relationship with him, the God of the universe. What a privilege!! He cares intimately about each of you and the details of your life. I know this to be true.
When God created Adam and Eve back in the beginning, He allowed Satan to tempt them – God allowed humanity, in the form of Adam and Eve, to choose God’s way or their own way. And when Eve took a bite of the forbidden apple, sin entered the world. And because of this we all have a sinful nature…Romans 3:23 reads “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Because God is so holy and embodies perfection and we are sinners, we are not worthy to stand in his presence. But because he loves us so much he sent his son Jesus into the world more than 2000 years ago to pay our debt to God for our sins. John 3:16 reads “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus died for us…he was the acceptable sacrifice offered up to God on our behalf. It is a gift. We cannot earn it, we do not deserve it. God gives it freely out of his great love for us but we have to accept that gift. When you accept Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf, God washes you clean and sees you as righteous – you have right-standing before God because Jesus goes before you and when God looks at you, He sees Jesus- in all of CHRIST’S perfection. This is what makes you a child of God and allows you to have a relationship with God, and best of all it allows you to spend eternity after you die with God in Heaven. I want this for each of you. Corey believed all this to be the Truth with a capital T. It takes a step of faith to believe these things but God has placed so much around us to prove these things to be true. Corey is in Heaven now…joyful, whole and healthy.
So if you are struggling with understanding Corey’s death…this great loss…know that God is and has been present in all of this. I can attest to this because God has done so many things over the course of the last couple of days and weeks- things that can only be attributed to God. I would love to share with any of you the specifics of how God has been moving these last few days. God was there in the moments surrounding Corey’s passing. Looking back, I can see things that God did to prepare me months ago for the loss of my husband. God is just amazing. Romans 8:28 reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” And as I have told many of you, God is going to work all of this sorrow, suffering, and pain for his glory, for his good. I have already seen it happening and I’m committed to being a part of the good that God is going to bring about through Corey’s death.
I love all of you. I am so thankful for the part you have played in my husband’s life and in my life. Thank you for your prayers and support. Words really cannot express my gratitude.
I am going to close by reading Psalm 34
"I will extol the Lord at all times. His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord. Let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me. Let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord and he answered me. He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look at him are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the lord heard him. He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."
Soli Deo Gloria. To God alone be the glory.
