Jesse and I set out on this blog to “encourage one another”. We have been so incredibly encouraged by the life and suffering of Andrew Mark, and his young wife and family (Grace’s Journal), that we are compelled to encourage you with the encouragement we have received.
As some of you may know, Andrew, after a 2 year battle with cancer, is now free from suffering and present with the Lord. He was 27 years old. Andrew held an especially dear place in my heart as his suffering resembled so much the suffering of my brother, Michael, both in duration and intensity. Even the description of Andrew’s final hours on this earth brought back memories of Michael’s last moments. My brother came to love his Savior vastly more in his hours of suffering than in his time of good health and earthly treasures. We witnessed this in Andrew’s life as well and countless souls have been stirred as a result.
How can God be holy and good in our suffering? To understand this seeming paradox, listen to a powerful sermon from Andrew’s brother-in-law, and our dear friend, pastor R.W. Glenn from Redeemer Bible Church . Please take the time to listen to the sermon titled, “Reflections on the Suffering and Death of a 27 year old man”. It is only 41 minutes long and it has challenged our view of life, of suffering, and what it means to love Christ.
Phil 3:7-11 is a beautiful and powerful description of Andrew Mark’s testimony:
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. ” (Phil 3:7-11)
