Goodplans

Nothing is wasted in God’s Economy...
My thoughts on the life of Stephanie McKay

Satan comes to kill, and to steal, and to destroy, but I (Jesus) am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly…

We live in a cause-and-effect world. There was an accident, an unintentional event, and it has created consequences. A young woman’s body was broken, a family has been challenged with separation, and faith has been put to the test.

I read one comment from a young man; I believe his name was Matt. He claimed to be an atheist, but said that for Stephanie’s sake he hoped he was wrong. Another comment said that she didn’t deserve this.

The truth is that none of us experience what we truly deserve. We were all created by a loving God who sent His Son, Yeshua in Hebrew, Jesus the Messiah, to die in our place that we might live eternally with Him, and walk this earth in fellowship with Him.

So Stephanie lives. She is an eternal being. And, although her outer shell has perished, her spirit lives on with the Father in Heaven, because she is born again. She is reaping the reward of one of her choices.

This God, Jehovah, King of the Universe, is not a cruel Master, but a loving God who created all humanity as free agents, not robots to be programmed. He so desired fellowship with man that He gave each a choice to be called His friend.

In this cause and effect world, Stephanie realized her need for a Savior, and she publicly accepted Jesus and confessed that belief in Him. I bet she wasn’t perfect. None of us always do the right thing. But her heart was turned toward Him. She was trying. She chose to try to obey Him.

And, because of that choice, those around her do not grieve as those who have no hope.

I didn’t know Stephanie. I knew OF her, because we have mutual friends. I’ve seen her skate, although I don’t particularly remember her, because she was just like you or me, a thread in the fabric of life, in which we are all a part. I didn’t KNOW her.

But, I do KNOW this.

Stephanie’s life was not lived in vain, and the enemy, Satan, without the right to do so, has brought what he intended to be a tragedy into her life and into the lives of her family and friends. But, Satan, the enemy of humanity, always overplays his hand.

We know that, in God’s economy, nothing is wasted, and for Stephanie, as for every believer, death is swallowed up in victory. We are always led in triumphal procession in Christ. Believers always win. Stephanie has won. Jehovah has won. Satan has lost and is eternally defeated.

We don’t yet know all the potential of Stephanie’s life. We know she is alive now, an eternal spirit absent from the body, but present with the Lord. We know that God will use her life, and all the effects of her life from this point forward, to bring victory because He promised that death has lost its sting. Stephanie has victory in Jesus Christ.

We know that those who have experienced the effects of this accident now have choices to make, choices about how to live the rest of their lives, and choices about what they will believe.

We know Stephanie’s choice; she chose life. We know God’s choice; He said, “I set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life.” I know my choice; I choose life.

Now, the choice is yours.

By Tammy Boley, October 10, 2008