On December 3, 2016, life changed for six people from a small town just outside Fort Worth, Texas.
Three couples, friends for life, were traveling near Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country when a car traveling the opposite direction went out of control, first striking a truck, then vaulting directly into their Chevrolet Suburban. One man in the Suburban died instantly, and a second later at the hospital. Also in the Suburban, their wives and the third couple were transported to local hospitals.
How can anyone come to grips with a disaster of this proportion?
Revelation 21:4 offers us consolation in our pain:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Ecclesiastes 12:7 gives us hope for life after death:
“And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Romans 14:8 promises that even in death, our Lord watches over us:
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Luke 23:43 offers our promise of eternity directly from Christ:
“And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ ”
1 Thessalonians 4:14 is a word of hope to those who remain in this world:
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
John 3:16 is God’s promise to all humanity:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 11:26 asks us to consider where we stand with Christ:
“And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Four additional people were involved in the Fredericksburg accident, two of whom died, bringing the total deaths to four. Their families’ pain is no less. It will be a long time before the survivors come to terms with what happened on that Saturday morning. Some may struggle with finding a resolution to losing everything in that sudden crushing moment. Hopefully, for those who know Christ, the bridge will be easier to cross with their faith, their church, and their families at their side.
When we share a faith in Christ, we can trust in him to be our solace and peace through the time of the storm.
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