Hello Village Family and Friends,
As I write, the sun is shining and it’s an unseasonably warm 55 degrees out. Yet even amidst this beautiful weather, we are reminded that we live in a broken world, wrecked by man’s sin. One needs to look no further than the news headlines or their social media, to see the broken state of mankind.
Even here, among our church family, among those who have been redeemed by Christ the Lord, we also feel the effect of the curse of sin. This week, as we grieve the passing of our beloved sister-in-Christ, Barb Walter, let us be reminded of God’s words to Adam, in Genesis 3:19:
”By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
This world and each of us in it are not unscathed by sin’s curse. By the grace of God and the blood of the Lamb, our sister is now with the Lord, where there is no more pain or sin, and where she will spend eternity in the presence of the King. Yet while we mourn our loss, scripture reminds us:
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
For the Christian, death is a reminder that this life is not the end; rather, it is the beginning of eternity with our Lord and Savior. Though this life is at-times filled with pain, loss, and trials, we do not mourn as those who have no hope. Our hope is in Christ alone!
This Sunday, we will gather because of this hope. We will sing, pray, and hear the Word of God taught and preached, because of the hope that we have in Christ. This week, Pastor John will continue in the book of Exodus, as we examine the first commandment (Exodus 20)
Lord willing, I will see you then.
In Christ,
Jon Collins, pastor
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267