More to The Story

A young guy we know, named Hunter, has gone Home this week after his battle with Battens disease. He was nine years old like Macayla. When we lose a child or witness the loss of a child, it brings up many questions and feelings. It is so hard to understand, but there is more to the story.


Be sure of one thing, God did not create Battens disease! Battens disease is a mutation, which means it is a deviation from what was intended, from what was created. Battens disease, along with every other way to die came from one decision. The Bible gives us a picture of God creating everything, weaving together different parts of creation, and once it was all finished, God looked at all He made and said it was “very good.” That means perfect. That means no Battens disease, no death. Humans were part of that creation and in order for creation to be “very good” humans had to be able to experience God’s love. In oder for humans to truly experience God’s love, they had to be able to choose it. If love can’t be chosen, it is not truly love. But with choice comes the real possibility that selfishness, not love, will be chosen.

---

The story of Adam & Eve shows how selfishness was chosen over God’s love. Since humans were part of the tapestry of creation, once they chose sin, it impacted all of creation. Creation now has mutations like Battens disease and malfunctioning cells we call cancer. There is death and suffering. We dwell in a fallen world.

But there’s more to the story, and we need to hear it!

Children like Hunter and Macayla have a purpose in this world. Their time on this earth changes lives. We certainly prayed and desired that they would be healed on this side of heaven, but now they are healed fully and whole in Christ. This may make us angry at God for not complying with our desires, but there’s more to the story. 

I believe that the greater miracle can be the change a child like Hunter or Macayla can bring in the lives of others. Their impact can be even greater than a sudden, miraculous, physical healing. Besides this fact, sudden miraculous healings are temporary corrections in a fallen world like ours. Even if they were healed of their Battens disease, they would face death again someday.

That is why there is more to the story. When God put on flesh in Jesus, He took upon Himself all of our weakness. He lived life free of sin. He healed many, but not all. Even the ones He healed or raised from the dead, later died. But Jesus went to the cross, and though He never sinned, He became sin on our behalf so that God’s wrath could be poured out on it. His blood was spilt to atone for our sins. There Jesus died.

But there’s more to the story, and we need to hear it! 

Jesus did not stay dead. He rose again! That life, death, and resurrection made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. It made a way for us to be free of the bondage of sin. It even made a way for us to be free of the futility and bondage of this fallen world. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Our bodies may die, but through the cross and tomb, Jesus provides the resurrection and the life to those who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Miracles may treat the symptoms of a fallen world, but the cross and tomb are the cure for the disease of a fallen world. The cross and tomb provide a transformed life, here and now. The cross and tomb transforms our relationships with God and others. The cross and tomb makes a way for all things to be made new, even our children who have died before us.

Hunter and Macayla have been given that resurrection and life. That is why we can say that we grieve, but we grieve with hope. Not wishful thinking, but knowledge. Assurance of what is promised in Christ that by His grace we will see His face, as well as Hunter’s and Macayla’s again. This hope belongs to all who know Christ as their Lord and Savior. Having Christ as Lord doesn’t mean we get a pass on pain and suffering. But it does mean we never have to walk through those valleys laden with death’s shadow alone.

There is more to the story and I hope all who read this have embraced that story as their own.