Our church mourns the passing of a friend and leader. Jim Titler stepped into the presence of his Lord on Sunday night. He will be missed by his family, friends and by his Pastor. Jim was a confidant and support to me and my family. He was a biblical example of a husband, father and grandfather loved by those who took care of him, right to the moment of his passing. A friend to all who call Center Hill their home church. He was a humble servant of his Lord.
Once again I am reminded that death is no friend to us. Death is the result of sin in this world and it is a picture of how much God hates sin. It is also a reminder to us, that we too should hate death, suffering and sin. We should not welcome it but see it as the enemy that lies at our door.
We mourn not for him but for us. We miss him already. We try to console each other. Our real consolation is this, that sin and death do not have the final victory. Where is your sting, death? Where is your victory? It may be for a moment as we mourn our loss but thanks be to God who gives us the ultimate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He conquered death on our behalf and it is in this victory that we find our hope.
We have a confidence in a God who has bottled up all of our tears. Who keeps an account of our hurts as a compassionate father and is touched by each of them. There is coming a day of reunion and celebration over this sin and death when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Lord, hasten that day!
soli deo gloria
3 thoughts on “Death will not have the victory.”
When I now think of Jim, knowing where he is, I rejoice. I used to pray for healing…and he truly got the *ultimate* healing in passing into glory. Although I miss him (and it deeply saddens me to know I will not see him again this side of heaven), I rejoice to know he is without pain and suffering. As I think of him, I am so glad that I will see him again one day. I look forward to it!
And to add to it, as I blink back the tears…I believe Jim will welcome us into heaven just as he did at Center Hill…with that same loving, gentle smile and mannerism. I am greatly saddened that newcomers to the church will not get to meet him. May we each pick up where he left off and give the members and visitors to our church the same lovingkindness that he gave to us.
I just want to thank Katy for the above comments about Dad. I always see him as ‘my Dad’ and I am brought to tears to now see how others have been touched by his life. I, too, will miss those Sunday mornings being greeted at the door of the church with his hug and a kiss on my cheek. I had the pleasure of sitting on the sunporch at their home on a sunny Sunday morning in the past month and shared a small cup of coffee and some conversation. I thank God for those little moments in time where it was just me and Dad. Anyone that heard LeAnn’s words at Dad’s service last Thursday, you will never look at a loved ones hands as ‘just hands’, a handkerchief as just ‘a handkerchief’ and sharing a cup of coffee with someone will not be ‘just a cup of coffee’. I looked at Dad’s hands that Sunday morning while sharing a cup of coffee with him and trying so hard to not let him see my tears and I definitely could have used one of Dad’s handkerchiefs, as I knew that soon he would be going home and there would not be many more, if any, chances to have a quiet moment with Dad. God has blessed our family so graciously with our church family, friends, family and, for those things, I am very grateful. Thanks Katy for such kind words. It makes my soul happy to know that Dad was so special to others. God Bless
When I now think of Jim, knowing where he is, I rejoice. I used to pray for healing…and he truly got the *ultimate* healing in passing into glory. Although I miss him (and it deeply saddens me to know I will not see him again this side of heaven), I rejoice to know he is without pain and suffering. As I think of him, I am so glad that I will see him again one day. I look forward to it!
And to add to it, as I blink back the tears…I believe Jim will welcome us into heaven just as he did at Center Hill…with that same loving, gentle smile and mannerism. I am greatly saddened that newcomers to the church will not get to meet him. May we each pick up where he left off and give the members and visitors to our church the same lovingkindness that he gave to us.
I just want to thank Katy for the above comments about Dad. I always see him as ‘my Dad’ and I am brought to tears to now see how others have been touched by his life. I, too, will miss those Sunday mornings being greeted at the door of the church with his hug and a kiss on my cheek. I had the pleasure of sitting on the sunporch at their home on a sunny Sunday morning in the past month and shared a small cup of coffee and some conversation. I thank God for those little moments in time where it was just me and Dad. Anyone that heard LeAnn’s words at Dad’s service last Thursday, you will never look at a loved ones hands as ‘just hands’, a handkerchief as just ‘a handkerchief’ and sharing a cup of coffee with someone will not be ‘just a cup of coffee’. I looked at Dad’s hands that Sunday morning while sharing a cup of coffee with him and trying so hard to not let him see my tears and I definitely could have used one of Dad’s handkerchiefs, as I knew that soon he would be going home and there would not be many more, if any, chances to have a quiet moment with Dad. God has blessed our family so graciously with our church family, friends, family and, for those things, I am very grateful. Thanks Katy for such kind words. It makes my soul happy to know that Dad was so special to others. God Bless