Posted on 01/12/2022 5:51:57 AM PST by Kaslin
I have no positive spin to put on this, no spiritual sounding platitude to soften the blow. This is a loss, a terrible, tragic loss. And I believe God Himself grieves over it. Evil COVID has killed again.
I first met Brad Kauffman in the mid-1980s while teaching at a Bible school on Long Island. He was just 17 and I was only 28, and he would sometimes babysit for our two daughters.
Brad had a very tender heart and was a tremendously gifted worship leader, piano player, singer, and songwriter. And as the years went on, he would sometimes travel with me, ministering in music before and after I spoke. What beautiful times those were!
On some of those occasions, Brad would stay at our house before we traveled together (including some overseas trips), so my whole family stayed close with him over the years.
The odd thing was that Brad never married, despite being a handsome young man and despite his very intense desire to be married and have children. Yet somehow, he never found the right match, right up into his 40s, making us wonder, “When will it ever happen?”
And then things suddenly fell into place.
Brad was asked to sing at the memorial service for a grieving widow, mourning the loss of her husband to cancer after 6 years of marriage, their kids now without their dad.
Brad didn’t know who this Christian woman was, but as he sang at the service, he said to himself, “This is not right.”
Soon enough, they became friends, and a little more than 6 years ago, they were married. This is why the Lord had kept Brad single these many years. This was His answer for this bereaved wife and these bereaved kids.
Now it all made sense.
I finally met Brad’s wife Nikki in September 2020, along with the kids, and it was so evident that they were made for each other, each of them being just what the other one needed. And Brad was so excited to be a father at last.
Now, he is gone from this world, and Nikki and the kids are mourning again.
To repeat Brad’s sentiments from more than 6 years ago, “This is not right.”
Instead, this is another reminder of how messed up this world can be. Another reminder of how cruel life can be. Another reminder of the evil nature of COVID (and all disease). And another reminder of the fact that, while God’s goodness is the firmest reality in the universe, there is much that happens that we simply do not understand.
I’m fully aware of all the biblical verses about God’s sovereignty, and for decades, I have seriously engaged the subject of the problem of suffering. In fact, I wrote a full-lengthy commentary on Job, titled, Job: The Faith to Challenge God: A New Translation and Commentary.
I also authored the most exhaustive study in English of God as Healer, titled, Israel’s Divine Healer, so I am no stranger to the biblical subjects of sickness, disease, and healing.
But we don’t have to make this is into a theological mystery, since the Scriptures plainly teach that: 1) sickness, in and of itself, is negative and destructive; 2) healing, in and of itself, is beautiful and lifegiving; 3) God never promised sickness as a covenant blessing for obedience or as the fruit of faith; 4) God frequently promised healing as a covenant blessing for obedience or as the fruit of faith; 5) Jesus revealed the nature and character of His heavenly Father, and He went around healing the sick, raising the dead, and setting the captives free, rather than making everyone sick.
What, then, happened to Brad, especially when so many thousands of believers were praying for him? I do not know.
Why was not Brad healed, along with millions of other fine Christians who have died of COVID, cancer, or other diseases, or were killed in accidents? I do not know.
But I do know that God remains trustworthy and that soon enough, we will be all be rejoicing before His throne, perhaps with Brad leading us in worship. What a day that will be!
And I also know that, somehow, the Lord will help Nikki and the kids through this terrible ordeal, and that, once again, His grace will prove sufficient.
But that doesn’t minimize this tragic loss. Nor does it minimize the pain being experienced by Brad’s extended family (he had six younger sisters, being the only brother) and friends (he was loved by many).
Yet all I have is words right now, and so, for the world to hear, I shout out: I love you and miss you deeply, dear friend! And I can’t wait to worship with you again in that beautiful place where sorrow and pain and tears and mourning will be no more.
May the Lord hasten that day!
I do know that God is not a magical genie that grants wishes. He is not beholden to us or our wishes. He does what is best. Not what we think is best.
Life with the widow seems to have a 6 year expiration date attached. Just an observation.
Did Brad follow Godly wisdom? Was he overweight due to gluttony or eating garbage foods? Was he diabetic due to either of the two aforementioned or not practicing self control as regards to unhealthy sugary foods? Did he follow wisdom that says a wise man forsees danger ahead and takes action, ie. did he practice preventative health measures? Did he use good discernment to know truth from lie as to how to treat himself?
If all or many of those were fails, he has only himself to blame.
Wow. Just wow.
Do you really think that Jesus would speak to someone that way? The same Jesus who died for everyone, even the worst of sinners? The same Jesus who called out the self-righteous Pharisees while dining with the prostitutes and tax collectors?
The same Jesus who warned us not to point out the speck in our brother’s eye until we have addressed the log in our own?
I don’t post often but I felt the need to rebuke you on this one. What you posted is NOT scriptural and does nothing to shine the Light of the Gospel in a rapidly darkening world.
We follow Christ in obedience out of love and gratitude, NOT because there is some sort of heavenly scorecard that determines life expectancy based on “following the rules”.
My mother got Covid when she was 100 years old. She had “co-morbidities” that would scare any sensible person.
She survived without ever having to be intubated.
Be careful about blaming “co-morbidities”.
I believe some of the recent deaths supposedly due to “covid” are due to the vaccine. Even if not the case, I would not blame the victim.
God has written the day of our death in a book before we are born. No one can lengthen of days nor shorten them.
Really?
Oh save it. Another one that wants to have zero responsibility to do their part, like an irresponsible teen who DOES NOT WANT TO LISTEN and then just have daddy or mommy bail them out of the consequences. I’m am so sick and tired of your type.
You do not have any idea what is the story behind Brad's death. Yet you judge him. And you responded to my post, without knowing my story or the story of my friend who died. Remarks like yours--without knowing anything--are what drives people away from the Christian faith.
There is a remote chance that what God has in store for us is more wonderful than we could imagine and will truly transform us from our selfish attraction to our own misfortune into what he knows he has in store for us.
Maybe? Hmmm?
Can you read and understand these simple words?
"If all or many of those were fails, he has only himself to blame."
Do you know what the word "if" means? WHERE DID I SAY HE DID IN FACT DO ANY OF THESE THINGS.
I’ve said my peace.
If you are truly saved, the Holy Spirit should convict you.
If you aren’t convicted by your statement and are unwilling to humble yourself when you are so very wrong, then you should examine your heart.
The King I serve would NEVER respond to a grieving person with flippant criticism and self-righteous commentary.
He would weep alongside them, comfort them and remind them that He is in complete control.
So in obedience I will simply say, God bless you.
So all the people who died prematurely from heart disease or diabetes from eating poor diets, i.e. foods butchered by men from their natural and healthy form, God wanted them to die early according to you and they had zero to do with anything?
Never confuse God knowing the day you will die with Him ordering that date.
The King I serve would NEVER respond to a grieving person
Did I say this to the person's family or friends? NO I DID NOT so stop with straining to accuse in some way.
My response was directed to Micheal Brown who seems all mystified why this person died and never once considers that maybe basic principles in the real world have real world consequences. God is not some genie where every time you violate basic sound principles, you say some magic words and presto, the consequences go away.
The very fact that you jumped to that possibility. There are so many other possibilities that focusing on just one is....I don’t even know. But it’s not right.
Do not think yourself as god, in control of life and death. He holds all things together in His hand. Nothing is outside His plan.
You didn’t answer the question. Does God ordain people dying younger than they should due to poor choices in diet and lifestyle? According to your theology the answer must be yes.
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