Steve Sikes Blog
Steve Sikes Blog
I received an e-mail this past week informing me that one of my “teens” from my youth group in the 1980’s had passed. Chris was only 40, but he suffered a massive heart attack and lived only a short time thereafter.
During his last 48 hours before passing, Chris shared the following:
“I want to be used as an example to those that are using drugs. When you’re young you think you’re indestructible and nothing will happen to you. Nothing bad will happen if you take one pill or one sniff of a drug; you won’t get addicted – not you. But it does happen. Drugs ruined my marriage and my life. Plus, if you suffer from depression, go to the doctor and get the right kind of help; don’t try to fix yourself with illegal drugs. Turn your life around before it’s too late and you damage your heart so bad that you die.”
Chris was a professional musician – extremely talented and able to play almost anything by “ear”. However, during his last year of life he had quit playing in bands altogether stating, “I don’t need to be in that environment, too many temptations. Besides, I don’t want anything to get between me and my relationship with Christ.”
Last week I sent Chris a message encouraging him that there was someone in NJ who loved him and was praying for him – not only for his health but for his resolve to not let ANYTHING get between him and his relationship with Christ. He smiled.
He’s still smiling because NOT EVEN DEATH got between Chris and Christ!
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:55-58).”
God is good all the time and all the time God is good. Mr. Steve