You never know what a day may hold. We hear a lot of bad news and it gets depressing at time. But every once in a while we hear something that is absolutely wonderful.Yesterday was one of those days for me.

Our youngest son, Jason, is in Iraq, on his second deployment. Thankfully I am able to talk to him almost everyday by way of the internet. Yesterday he shared with me the wonderful news that he had received Christ as his Savior about one month before he was deployed. I was shocked–but thrilled! Jason had been raised in church and had made a profession of faith many years ago. I had no reason to believe that he wasn’t saved. I could go on and on talking about what a great kid Jason was, but the bottom line is that there was nothing about his attitude or actions that ever caused me to doubt his salvation.

I won’t go into the details, I’m waiting for him to return home and tell the story himself. I’ll just tell you that he was saved shortly before he left for Iraq and that, in his words,”Pride–kept me from spreading the word—.” My first thought was,”What if he had been killed during his first deployment?” We would have thought he was in heaven, but he would have been in hell. It makes me tremble just to write those words. It also makes me wonder how many others are in exactly the same condition. They were raised in church and have a head knowledge of Christ, but they are lost. I suspect the number is far larger than we think. It’s a scary thought!

There just might be someone reading this article, at this very moment, who is in that position—a long standing church member, with a head full of knowledge about Christ, decent and kind, but lost. I hope Jason’s story will cause you to stop and think about your situation. It’s my prayer that you will truly repent and receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says,”Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves–.”( 2 Cor.13:5). If everyone would do that many would be forced to admit that they are not saved. If that describes you, please don’t wait until it is too late. Trust Christ today. If you do let me know—I’m ready for some more good news. Think about it!

The following article comes from “Streams in the Desert”. It was a blessing to me and I hope it will be the same to you:

“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).

Sorrow was beautiful, but her beauty was the beauty of the moonlight shining through the leafy branches of the trees in the wood, and making little pools of silver here and there on the soft green moss below.

When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with those who weep, but to rejoice with those who rejoice was unknown to her.

Joy was beautiful, too, but his was the radiant beauty of the summer morning. His eyes still held the glad laughter of childhood, and his hair had the glint of the sunshine’s kiss. When Joy sang his voice soared upward as the lark’s, and his step was the step of a conqueror who has never known defeat. He could rejoice with all who rejoice, but to weep with those who weep was unknown to him.

“But we can never be united,” said Sorrow wistfully.

“No, never.” And Joy’s eyes shadowed as he spoke. “My path lies through the sunlit meadows, the sweetest roses bloom for my gathering, and the blackbirds and thrushes await my coming to pour forth their most joyous lays.”

“My path,” said Sorrow, turning slowly away, “leads through the darkening woods, with moon-flowers only shall my hands be filled. Yet the sweetest of all earth-songs–the love song of the night–shall be mine; farewell, Joy, farewell.”

Even as she spoke they became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a Kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him.

“I see Him as the King of Joy,” whispered Sorrow, “for on His Head are many crowns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever.”

“Nay, Sorrow,” said Joy softly, “but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nailprints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great agony. I, too, give myself to Him forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy that I have known.”

“Then we are one in Him,” they cried in gladness, “for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow.”

Hand in hand they passed out into the world to follow Him through storm and sunshine, in the bleakness of winter cold and the warmth of summer gladness, “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing.”

“Should Sorrow lay her hand upon thy shoulder,
And walk with thee in silence on life’s way,
While Joy, thy bright companion once, grown colder,
Becomes to thee more distant day by day?
Shrink not from the companionship of Sorrow,
She is the messenger of God to thee;
And thou wilt thank Him in His great tomorrow
For what thou knowest not now, thou then shalt see;
She is God’s angel, clad in weeds of night,
With ‘whom we walk by faith and not by sight.'”