So what makes a meaningful life? Some people live a long time,
seemingly without purpose and without much positive impact. When is a life “fully
lived?”
I have been thinking a lot about this because of a heroic little boy in
our church who died on April 4 at the age of seven months. His name is
Shepard Summerlin. He and his parents fought valiantly and faithfully, he was
treated at a world-class hospital by wonderfully competent and caring doctors
and nurses, but finally he passed away.
It was my privilege to preside at both his dedication to the Lord and
at his funeral. On those occasions I tried to point out how Jesus loves little
ones and how they are saved and taken to heaven, not because they are sinless,
but because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice. “Let the children come to me, and do
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God "(Luke 18:16)
God’s plan for those who are too little to repent and believe is to
cover them in His grace and bring them home. He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his
heart… (Isaiah 40:11).
But why would God create a child…For you created
my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… (Psalm 139:13)
And then allot to him only seven months? ...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them
came to be. (Psalm 139:16)
Why create Shepard for only seven months of life?
The truth is, God created Shepard, not for seven months, but for
eternity. He finished his race on this side of glory even before he learned to
walk here.
His life story is only beginning. It’s just that we can read only the
first, brief chapter. But even that leaves no doubt that the measure of a life
cannot be calculated by its length on this planet. Shepard’s life has been
profoundly influential. I remember one of the doctors saying that “Shepard will
lead us” regarding the course of his brain cancer. Which was certainly true.
But Shepard led in far more ways than that.
His story, and the story of his family’s faith, has gone around the
world. People were brought to pray, to reflect on their own eternal souls, to
look with tenderness at the fragile lives of those they love, and to consider
the gospel. I’m aware of at least two people (so far) who became Christians became of
Sheppy.
I’m confident Shepard’s legacy will continue. How he lived, how he
died, and how the gospel is true and heaven is real, will continue to influence
people for generations.
Well done, good and faithful servant! Way to go, Sheppy!
By the way, if you’d like to know more about how to be sure of heaven, click here for a good summary. And I want to recommend a great little book by John MacArthur: Safe in the Arms of God.
