Does God Really Help Widows?

Does God Really Help Widows?

     Logan Davis had inherited a lucrative business and managed it well.  He was well liked in the beach town and had the Midas touch when it came to making a profit.  Then he became a Christian.  A really earnest Christian.

     He sold the business and moved across state with his wife and two little toe heads.  “I’m going to become a Minister.”

     He and I became close friends and often studied together in the library.  Our families grew close also.  When Homiletics class began Logan quickly took the bull by the horns and became a good speaker... his fervor to convert the lost was an inspiration to each of us students.

     One day, as we studied Logan excused himself and said he had a doctor’s appointment.  He asked for prayers for good news.  He had noticed lumps in a couple of his lymph nodes.

     Logan was there bright and early the next day.  He said the doctor took a biopsy as he didn’t like the look of the growths.  A bunch of us began praying for good test results.  But I confess, thinking back, I was such a worrywart I was inwardly very unsettled.

     I still remember the day he sat beside me and said, “The news wasn’t very good.  The doctor says that I have Hodgkin’s disease.”

     I was stunned.  I prayed.  The whole Bible College and faculty did as well.  Logan kept studying with me in the library, but he started losing weight and energy.  We had many heart-to-heart discussions.  The weaker he felt the more he became deeply concerned about his family.  His little boys were close to starting school and his dear wife was heartbroken.  They both trusted that the Lord would work it out as He promised: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”  (Romans 8:28, NLT)
 
     We were in a college class when someone disputed the meaning of a certain Scripture.  Logan electrified everyone when he stood and slammed his Bible on his desk, shouting, “Don’t try to tell me the Bible isn’t accurate.  You must repent of your doubt.”  You could have heard the proverbial pin hit the floor for a long time before anyone spoke again.

     Logan began standing on busy corners and urging passersby to become Christians.  He wasn’t able to continue for many more days though as he was weakening and his life’s calendar flipped pages like a high-speed fan.

     One of the Bible College teachers ministered to a nearby church.  He called to invite Logan to preach the next Sunday.  His wife, knowing how sick he was and napping said, “Oh.  I’m sorry but he’s not up to it.”

     Logan overheard the conversation and curtly asked, “Why did you say that?  God wants me to preach until I can’t.  Call him back and say I will be there to preach.”  She did so.  And he preached.

     As he and I met one day his blue eyes filled with tears, sobbing he asked, “How can I care for my family if I’m going to die?”

     I spoke softly as the lump in my throat felt like a stone.  “Logan, I promise you I’ll do everything I can to help your wife and boys.”  Our eyes met and I think he wanted to believe it, but both of us knew it was just an emotional response to my friend’s trauma.

     Logan’s Memorial Service was a full house... just over 300 people.  Several had driven the many miles from his hometown.  Before the day was concluded several of his friends and two relatives became Christians when hearing the testimonials about him.

     A while after he was gone I helped Dana a few times.  She seemed to be doing pretty well and the boys were spitting images of their Dad and well behaved.

     A few months later I was asked to preach at a small church.  The Lord laid on my heart to preach about Hell.  When the sermon was done a young visitor responded.  Philip said, “I never believed in Hell before ~ but now you’ve got me nervous.”  He asked if we had time to discuss it.

     Before long Philip decided he needed and wanted to become a Christian.  It was so joyful seeing him as he expressed his faith saying: “I believe Jesus is the Son of God, my Master and my Lord...and most of all He’s my Savior.”  He firmly committed to turn from sin and turn to God and was immersed that very night.

     Sadly, though Philip gave it his best, his girlfriend would not yield to the Lord.  Eventually, they were walking down different paths with different goals and grew apart.  She asked Philip to quit the church and travel with her through life.  Philip, instead, broke off their relationship.

     Philip grew in the faith like a heavily-limed field of alfalfa. I heard frequent praise of his steady transformation.  Perhaps a year later he attended a large inter-church rally.  He noticed an elegant and gracious woman.  He learned she wasn’t married and decided to ask her out on a date.

     I was living nearly 70 miles away and never learned about his new interest until he called me.  “Larry I’m engaged and I’d like you to meet my fiance.

     When I showed up for dinner I began weeping uncontrollably.  Philip's fiance was Logan's widow, Dana.  The sovereign Lord of the Universe had answered Logan's desperate concern.

“Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families  for those who are lonely.” (Ps. 68:5, 6a, CEV)

     Better yet. Philip decided he wanted to preach.  I never will ever understand how the Lord’s timing and actions are so much higher and greater than any human could comprehend, imagine, dream, speculate wish, plan or predict.  Human tongues and human minds are incapable of beginning to express how great and awesome is our God.

     So don’t ever credit Abracadabra - Credit God!

     Father, You are Indescribable!

Chris Tomlin

"Indescribable"

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