Joseph's Story and the Gospel
We just got news about my husband's cousin, whom he grew up with, lived next door to, and had been pretty close with all his life, a good 20 years, until (my husband) joined the military. They stayed in touch a couple times a year since then, and I had opportunity to chat with him a few times by phone and on facebook as well over the last 22 years.
We received news that there was a house fire where Joseph rescued everyone in the building that was on fire. Around 5 people. He got them out but he died in the fire.
Many family, friends, and church members he knows are all shocked by the sudden death, having just seen him the other day on Sunday, or the night before the disaster.
He was involved in his church in his home town, was active in sharing the gospel. And liked to sing.
After hearing about the news on facebook, my husband called family and was told the details. We talked about it, and prayed for everyone, and the situation. After some time passed, I mentioned to him that even though this is tragic, there is an amazing thing about how I realized his death mirrors the Father (God) sending Christ to die for us, and the visual of Jesus rushing into the lost world to save souls from Hell through the offer of Salvation. It also mimics believers going into the world with the gospel (which has the power to) snatch souls from the flames of Hell.
I said, it is very rare to find this kind of death happening in real life, someone running through a building on fire to get people out of it. John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this, than someone would lay down their life for their friends [others]."
I pray that Josephs life and death will be talked about and remembered in such a way to bring glory to God, and help lead souls to Salvation. Among those he knows, those who know those he knows, and anyone who hears this story.
Joseph leaves behind a wife, 6 children, his siblings and parents, and his church family. He was in his early 50's but is now walking the streets of Heaven singing Hallelujah and other songs.
1 Thess. 4:13-18 "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who have died, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have died. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, sound the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise, first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."
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What Happens to Christians who die? Part 1 Part 2
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