Editor's note: Mark Lester is a disciple in the Chicago Church of Christ who was at Northern Illinois University (NIU) the day of the tragic shooting that killed five people, including Gayle Dubowski, a faithful member of the campus ministry at NIU. Here is a lesson he recently shared at his local church. For more on Gayle's story, please see: Gayle Dubowski: Still Making a Difference and Cartwheels in the Rain.
This past Sunday, I did a lesson for the 5th and 6th graders on God’s love. Tonight, before Valentine’s Day, I had it put on my heart to share it again with everyone. It won’t be the whole thing, but it is basically what I had on my heart to share with you guys.As many of you may know, I was at NIU when the shooting happened (this was before I was baptized). It was (and still is) the worst day I had in my life. I was in the room it happened in from 9:30 am to 12:15 pm (and the shooting happened at about 3 pm.) The question of “What if?” still affects me today.
I still have mixed feelings on the situation (it took me a while to even talk to Joe Dubowski, who is still one of my top Christian heroes I have ever met), but it came to me that God saved me. I could have easily been…taken that day (it took me a while to type that sentence). God could have said no to me, a sinner, but he did not. He spared me (I don’t mean any disrespect at ALL to the victims, especially Gayle, the sister I will meet one day). I just feel that this is an example to me of God’s love.
My point is, while I am not bad mouthing Valentine’s Day (I think it is great for couples to be together and all, plus candy hearts are amazing), we need to remember that nothing is better than God’s love. I told the kids “Your parents will love God more than you, but they would want you to love God more than your parents.”
Psalm 63: 3-4 says, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
God’s love is better than life. That is awesome.
Anyway, I love you guys, and these were just some thoughts. I hope you all have a great Valentine’s Day, and keep the Dubowskis in your prayers today.
And to Gayle, the sister I never met, I still hope you are the first one I meet when I get to heaven.