Yesterday afternoon at approximately 1 P.M., my friend and fellow church member Steve Murphy was shepherded by God into eternity after a battle with a brain tumor.
He finished his race. Or better yet, God led Steve by the hand along each step of the race, and yesterday took Steve across the finish line. Steve heard Jesus say the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He is now looking upon the face of the One who died in His place. For Steve, to live was Christ. Now he is enjoying unbelievable, joyful gain.
Charles Spurgeon said:
To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes.
Our good Shepherd has led Steve home, out of the storm, into rest, to the goal of all His desires.
The good Shepherd will also gently lead and care for Steve’s family. Isaiah 40:11 says:
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”
The Lord is tender toward the Murphy family, and will gather them in His arms and gently lead them. He’ll care for them, watch over them, and sustain them. He is their shepherd.
Today my heart is sad for the Murphys and rejoicing for Steve. I want to finish like Steve. I want to be faithful to the end. I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
My hope, and the Murphy’s hope is in our Savior and Shepherd. He didn’t fail Steve, He won’t fail the Murphys, and He’ll keep me.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Though your friend is with the Lord, I know you will miss him. Condolences on your loss. Joy for his gain.
Thank you Pat. Amen. We’ll miss him. But we’ll see him again in the blink of an eye.
Mark –
Thanks for this post. I continue to pray for the Murphy’s, SGCI, and you. God blessed me by allowing me to meet Steve a few years ago and by allowing me to exchange a few emails with him. He has a big, godly influence on my family back there.
My you all experience the presence of the Comforter,
Tim
Thank you Tim. Steve influenced so many people in his life. We keep hearing of more and more people Steve blessed. Thanks for your care and prayers.
Hey Mark,
Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss. I can remember very clearly my first wife’s battle with cancer and just how through it all, she wanted to glorify Christ in her illness. I want to live my life fully for Christ and hear those wonderful words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” This life is so very temporary and for the believer we know that something so much better awaits us, however it’s still hard for the ones who are left behind, but the one who is greater than what we go through will sustain and uphold in times of devastating loss, the Murphy’s will be in our prayers.
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hi Ron,
You know much better than I what it’s like to see someone you love go through cancer. I too want to hear Jesus say, “Well done!” Thanks for taking time to encourage us and thanks for praying for the Murphys.
Words can’t express my love for Steve. He forever changed me life … his love and tender care for me and for us as a family truly demonstrated the love of Christ like I’ve rarely seen. He had the heart of a kind shepherd.
Hi Lee,
Yes, Steve was a loving servant who cared for so many and changed so many lives. Hope you and your family are all doing well.
Steve Murphy has had an amazing influence on my life. I am eternally grateful to how he reached out to me as a mentor, a pastor, and a friend. He will be incredibly missed by me, and I wish I could be there today to remember him in Indiana.
Hey Brando,
Steve influenced so many lives. We’re all going to miss him so much.