Beloved, we do not sorrow, as others do who have no hope, for we believe that Jesus died and rose again and the sting of death has been removed. Yet we do sorrow, and embrace the pain and sorrow of Melvin and Anna Kauffman and their family. Friday, August the 4th was a regular day for the Kauffman family. The three older boys were planning to drive from upstate New York, down to the weekend meetings at Charity Christian Fellowship. They all said their usual good-byes as the boys left for Pennsylvania. No one could know that the sand of time in Daniel’s hourglass was almost gone. It was God’s time to take him home. Some time in the early evening while driving on I-81, the car went out of control, and down a steep bank, crashing into a large tree. Matthew and Marvin were injured but Daniel’s life was taken. He was sitting in the back seat and was thrown partially through the back window. His death was immediate. No warning; no time to prepare. One minute he was sitting, reading a book on world missions, the next minute he was in eternity, in the presence of God. Only one life twill soon be past, only what’s done through Christ shall last. How our hearts grieve over the loss of a young life in its prime. It is sobering to us all as we are reminded that we could be next. Only God knows when our time is up, but let me explain why we choose to announce Daniel’s homegoing in this month’s issue of The Remnant.
Brother Daniel was ready to go to heaven. Our hearts were thrilled as his parents shared the testimony of his last few months on this side of eternity. Daniel was earnestly seeking God for a deeper walk and a purer heart. His mother said that for some months, he had found a quiet place in a small room away from the activities of the house. In that room she found a Bible, a book on humility, a roll of tissue, and a wastebasket. Day after day she could hear him in there crying and groaning before God. As a mother, I’m sure there were times when she wondered if he was OK. Every few days she would empty a wastebasket full of tissue. About two months before the accident, she noticed that the groaning had changed to sounds of joyful singing and praise, and the wastebasket had very little tissue in it. Praise God! These are the kind of things that make parents sing for joy. My son is seeking God with his whole heart and he is breaking through to a sweet reality. His father Melvin shared that just a few days before Daniel went to heaven, he (Daniel) was leading family devotions. His text was from 1 Peter, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Melvin shared that in the middle of his teaching time, Daniel overflowed with joy as he exclaimed to the family the beautiful reality of the Spirit filled life he had found in his closet. This was the last memory the family has of their dear son and brother, what a joy that must be.
The funeral was heavenly. Over five hundred people gathered to sorrow and rejoice with the family. There was an unusual anointing on the whole service that all who were present acknowledged. We all knew by Daniel’s life and testimony, that he was absent from the body and present with the Lord. This made such a difference in the atmosphere of the meeting. We were all challenged by his example to be ready when God calls our name and time will be over. How is it with our souls today? Would we be ready if it were our car that went off the road? Have we availed ourselves of the grace given in Christ to purify the heart? What about some of the youth? It’s hard to think about death when you are young. We just don’t think it will happen to us, but it does. God calls youth at an early age at times. Are we ready for that call? Maybe you say, I have some things I want to do first, and then I’ll find me a closet and do as Daniel did. You may not get a chance later, or “later” may not enter your heart after you are finished pursuing your goals.
The sand of time is falling, falling through the hourglass of our lives. No one knows how much sand is in his glass, or how much remains. Only God knows the amount of our lives that are yet to be lived. Some moment of time in the future, the last grain of sand will drop to the bottom of the glass. Then it will all be over for us. What’s done is done. Eternity begins at that moment. Oh God, stamp eternity on our hearts! Amen.
