Nathan's legacy is the catalyst

What do we do when God doesn’t make sense? Or at least, when it seems like he doesn’t make sense?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Nathan Vredevelt, and what his accident and subsequent death means for us.

We had an amazing experience at the high school retreat last weekend in Bend, where the Holy Spirit not only moved among us, but healed hearts, minds and bodies. It was amazing, and our souls were overjoyed as we all realized that we were on the verge of something big. A renewal… revival.

Then, tragedy struck. We heard Sunday night after an amazing night of worship that one of our own, Nathan Vredevelt, was critically injured and in the hospital. The atmosphere of prayer materialized. The next night, the youth gathered to pray for Nathan.

It was in the midst of prayer that our young people began to have visions, and soon it became obvious that unconnected people were believing that Nathan would be healed by God, and that healing would be the catalyst for revival. The faith and outpouring of prayer exploded not just in our youth group or church, but in the community, and even around the world.

But then God took Nathan to Heaven. Now what? My fear is that some people’s hearts will be faint, and their faith in question; the move of God they believed was coming a distant doubt. For those of you in that place, I encourage you to believe that your prayers were not in vain. God answered them, but perhaps it will take time to understand exactly how He did that.

What does all this mean for the words spoken over Nathan, such as the one that he would wake up from his coma praising the Lord. What about the catalyst for a move of God?

Nathan’s departure from this world doesn’t stymie those things in any way. He is released from a broken body, healed and enjoying fields of grace in a glorified, new body. That’s healing. Upon waking up in Heaven, my guess is that he began praising God. That's one fulfilled...

But what about the revival? What does his death mean? I’m sure many people are asking God, “Why didn’t you heal him? Wouldn’t that have made people believe in you? Wouldn’t that have changed the world?”

I’ve seen miracles before. When I was the editor of the Sandy Post, I was praising God and was amazed at the story of Doris Anderson, a 70-something woman who got lost in the Wallowa Mountains while accompanying her husband on a hunting trip. This aged woman survived two weeks in rugged, bear-filled terrain and survived! It was a major act of God!

And the media reported it. Doris was on major network morning shows, telling her amazing story, and giving God the glory. Even my paper proclaimed “MOUNTAIN MIRACLE” to our audience.

Doris survived despite amazing odds. She is a believer. She has a fantastic, one of a kind testimony now. But did revival start? No. Shortly after Doris had made her rounds on the TV circuit, the story went cold, and people returned to their lives.

That doesn’t take away from Doris’s story nor God’s amazing power to save her, but it shows that one miracle isn’t enough to bring about revival in the hearts of people. God just doesn’t work that way. He’s into changing people’s hearts, not putting on a good show. (And you’d better believe that Doris and her family’s faith was strengthened! I know mine was, as was countless others!)

Think of the story of Moses. A lot of signs and wonders were meant to tell the Egyptians to let the Hebrews go, but that wasn’t enough to change their hearts. Jesus did all sorts of miracles, and yet the Pharisees still wouldn’t believe. It’s not about the signs, it’s about the wonders of God’s love.

Even when Jesus did miracles, He told most of the recipients of His power not to say anything about it, and instead to make certain changes in their lives (“go and sin no more,” etc.). What He did tell people to do was to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

And that, dear friends, is Nathan’s legacy. He will be remembered for his love for people, for his spiritual sensitivity, and his happiness. God chose to take him home where he can run and play and sing on tune and get hugs from Jesus all day long. As Paul says, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." Nathan has gained a lot today, and for that we should be so happy for him.

I deeply believe this tragedy WILL be the catalyst for revival. We are a people hungry for God’s presence. We are open to the works of His Holy Spirit, and we’re dedicated to worship. But that’s not all that’s required.

Now, let’s complete the equation with love. 1 Corinthians 13 talks about all the various spiritual gifts available to believers, before making this declaration:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Then it goes into the “love is patient, love is kind” portion that’s recited so often at weddings. But that’s the gift Nathan has given us. He’s shown us love. He’s inspired us. He’s challenged us. We loved him, and yet realize that we probably could have loved him more while he was here. We now can go forward loving people deeper, smiling more often, and truly operating with a servant’s heart, adoring God’s children.

That’s where the revival will come from – the ignition of a legacy of love. It’s now up to us to run with it. For his sake, as well as ours and the Lord's. That's my prayer for us all.