The Last Meal

In the month of June, a brother and I visited a sister who has not been keeping well physically nor spiritually. As we fellowshipped and prayed together, even calling upon the name of the Lord, she gave us lovely hospitality by requesting us to eat the meal she loving prepared for us as she knew that we would be visiting her. After the fellowship we enjoyed the meal without an iota of thought that it would be the last meal we would ever have together again.

Since then, the meeting I had was only with her son who came over to my place now and then. Today, her son called me and visited me. To my shocking surprise, he told me that his mother went to be with the Lord. On further enquiry, it was last Saturday that she breathed her last at a young age of 52. Perhaps, due to stroke or asthma attack which she has been battling all her life. A year ago she also suffered a sever inquiry in a road accident and was in coma for a couple of months. Her health had deteriorated speedily as she underwent a lot of work pressure, psychological conflict, and marital problems. All that I could do was to shepherd the family and pray for them.

Her fellowship with me was related to her health and her son's well being. She was so concerned for her son. She wanted me to take him and shepherd him under my care. But I told her it would not be proper for her son to be with me when she, his mother, was still alive and live in the same city. Though she herself was not regular in the church life, she desired that her son be in the church life. In fact, I fellowshipped with her that she firstly be a pattern to her son in loving the Lord, pursuing the Lord, and be active in the church life. Then, her son would follow suit.

Her wish, now her last wish, which she commissioned me when I met her last was, firstly, to shepherd her son in the church life, and then, secondly, find a sister in the church life to be her son's wife. In fact, one day I called up his son to check on the matter of his marriage who has already carved a career for himself and is of a marriageable age now. Today, when his son came to meet me, informing me of his mother's demise, I conveyed his mother's last wish for him.

I took this opportunity to fellowship with him about the urgent need for his spiritual recovery. I used the negative example of Steve Job who regretted successfully chasing after his dream all his life when it could not save him a bit while on his dead bed. I also used a positive example of brother Ronnie Chan, though a wealthy man, has given his life to love and serve the living God. To help him recover, I proposed that we pray and enjoy morning revival together about four times a week, which he reluctantly and finally agreed. And that he sanctify the Lord's day for the Lord to meet with the church and fellowship with the saints regularly. Finally, I lovingly and seriously warned him of the need for him to set his priority right; his first priority must be the Lord, and all the the rest, next. Spiritual life should and must be his primary concern, and all the rest of his work, career, job, money, etc., must all be secondary. Then, we prayed together. And he agreed to these points of practical fellowship.

On the one hand I am sad that sister is no more, yet on the other hand I am glad that this would be to the salvation of her son for his full recovery. The last meal I had with sister Rachna would well be remembered and I reckon that as a testament for the shepherding of his son.

May the Lord gain this brother fully for His testimony.