September 2005 - Our Letter From Wilmington, Delaware

September 29, 2005
Wilmington, Delaware

To Friends I don't deserve,

The wealth of a man is measured by the number of his friends. Today I am feeling very wealthy. Thank you, thank you for your prayers and letters. You prayed, and God answered. Should I be surprised? Our skies are blue again: the dark clouds are being removed. This should be no surprise!! It is always blue beyond the clouds. There is still plenty of light before sunset.

From excruciating and paralyzing back pains, Ruthie has graduated to relief and activity, and her doctor says he feel optimistic about the treatment, to which Ruthie is responding well. She walks normally again, climbs stairs easily and keeps a good spirit and good humor.

In my case, the liver is in a "compensated state", with no need of medication for at least another 5 years. My diabetes is more unpredictable and bothersome but is being medicated.

Though there is a positive tone to this letter, the facts remain the same; Ruthie and I have incurable diseases but are being treated with some positive results. Our conviction remains the same that none of the above either forwards or moves back our appointment with God. It is not health nor sickness that rule our lives on earth but God perfect timing. God is our Father in heaven, and a father does not play with the lives of his little ones.

When our Lord Jesus saw Jerusalem as the finish line of His career in this life, far from slowing down, He seems to have accelerated His pace. Jesus did not have an "Air force One" for His travels, but on this occasion He even rides on "Donkey One" leading toward the finish line. Towards the cross. For Him suffering was not a possibility, but a certainty. In Mark 10:33 to 34, Jesus goes to Jerusalem knowing that He will be betrayed, condemned to death and handed over to the Gentiles, who will mock Him and spit on Him, flog Him and then kill Him. But three days later, He will rise.

Jesus delighted in doing God will.

Our lives are God will. It should be a delight to accept His timing. As the writer of the Hebrews said, It is established for a man to die once, and after that the Judgment. These bodies of ours are doomed to be sacrificed either for the will of men and as a feast of worms or for God will and the rejoicing of angels.

The idea of sacrifice sounds appealing and even heroic, but one can only sacrifice that which is dear and entirely one's possession. How could it be a sacrifice today that which was already sacrificed yesterday?. My life was never my own to begin with... even when I thought it was my own.

Jesus said in John 17:6, I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your words?

I was never my own. Even Jesus left us to the care of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit exercises His care through the church, which is you. We belong to the triune God; we belong to you. Even before the foundation of the world, we were just a thought of God. That is where we belong, there is where we are going back and there we will rest at last from wandering within time and space.

But as for me and the here and now, don't count me out just yet, because I may just be able to out-live you. I have many soccer games to play yet.

We still have to be the comfort of the Andes. We still have to be the encouragement to the cities. We still have to be the message to God's people. We still have to be the worshipers in the body. We still have to be the lovers of God and men.

Therefore, we will vow every day to be anxious tomorrow, but not today. Until our Lord returns, hopefully before we sleep, till then we will chase after the secrets of the Kingdom kept for those who love and trust Him. Things that eyes have not seen and ears have not heard. Secrets kept from the servants of God and revealed to the friends of God. Secrets that make us fit for citizenship in heaven.

Please pray that we may be a faithful witness of God's grace to His people.

Pray for a deeper understanding of this which God Himself has entrusted to us at this time of our lives.

Pray for boldness as we stand up for Jesus, because He stood up for us.

Pray that in holy and humble reliance we may live in constant discredit of self for any god in our lives.

We pursue a greater reward, and that is the smile of God and being able to hear Him say, This is my girl. This is my boy!.

I am free from the guilt of sin; no regrets! I don want to say like Mike Tyson, became old too soon and wise too late. Interestingly enough, my years of productivity are still ahead of me. The supreme hour is the last hour. No regrets thanks to God.

My grandmother and Keil-Delitzseh have nothing in common except in their advice to me on how to look at life and death. My grandmother used to tell me, "Live as a man who will one day die. This will temper your behavior now". Keil-Delitzsch said, "The grave, when compared with the restlessness of this life, is Peace. He who has died in faith, rest in God, to whom he has committed himself and entrusted his future." "The death of the righteous is better than life in this world, because it is the entrance into peace."

I would be a fool if I would not long for such a peace. Because peace for us is not a promise or a hope. It is a sure thing. But I will have all of eternity to rest. While I can, please let me serve now.

We pray for you. But is there anything I can do for you? I hope you let me know.

Gerry Gutierrez

In His service,
Gerry and Ruthie Gutierrez