I cherished the moments I shared with Gary. He was a wise man. He was a kind man. He cared about kids and what happened to them. He was willing to do whatever he could to make Christ's love real and understandable.

I vividly remember the day Gary walked into my office and said he wanted to help provide scholarships for financially challenged families who wanted to attend our Lutheran school. He was willing to organize, promote and completely take responsibility for a fund-raising golf outing. His children were raised, but he cherished the education they had received in our Lutheran school. He wanted everyone to have access to the Gospel.

The last time I spoke with Gary, we spoke only briefly about the golf outing. Mostly we spoke of his grandson, Bryan, and of the happy prospect of a second grandchild.

Gary was an elder in our church. He and I were attending a meeting at a nearby congregation, and Gary had offered me a ride home.

As we were driving along that day in Gary's sparkling clean gray Chevy Silverado, I thought of how blessed Gary was. He had a wonderful wife. I had known this godly woman since I was a teenager. He had two intelligent, talented and respectful grown children. I had the privilege of teaching both of them. Shortly, he would also have two grandchildren. Retirement was on the horizon. He was in good health. What more could a man want?

Little did I know I would soon be notified of Gary's death. On his way to Florida to deliver baby furniture for his second grandchild, he stopped at a Days Inn near Atlanta, Georgia. When Gary drove into the parking lot of that hotel, someone noticed he was alone. Someone noticed his nice truck.

On July 2, just before midnight, Gary made his way to the front desk, registered and headed out to the truck to move his things into the room. Upon entering the room, he was unable to locate the light switch. He abandoned the search for the light switch near the door and headed for the light switch in the nearby bathroom. Since there were lights in the parking lot, Gary left the door of his room open to help him find the bathroom light. He found the light, switched it on, turned and looked into the eyes of the man who would take his life that night. Gary died 20 minutes after midnight.

How does one deal with such a loss? What do you say to Gary's beloved wife Rosie or to Carmen and Paul and their spouses? What do you say to his five grandchildren who will never get to wrestle on the floor with him? Sometimes, when we don't know what to say, it is wise to simply listen to what God has already said.

In a way, Gary died because he couldn't find the light fast enough. But the good news is that Jesus, the Light of the World, had found Gary. Gary was never in the dark about the Light of the World. The Light of the World was his Best Friend. Gary was not alone that night. His Best Friend, Jesus, was with him. His Best Friend carried him home to heaven.

Now Gary is more alive than he has ever been. He might not be driving a Chevy Silverado, but he walks on streets of gold. He might not be with his beloved wife, but they will be together forever in eternity. Thanks to Gary and Rosie, those grandchildren have parents who know the love of Jesus, parents who will share God's love in Jesus with their children. Then they too will spend eternity in heaven, saved by God's grace through faith.

The prince of darkness is always trying to destroy us. Satan tries to discourage us. He shows us dark deeds and asks, "Where is your God?" While Satan taunts us, God comforts us in His Word: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me, 'Where is your God?'Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:2-3, 5).

Sing praises to God in the darkest hours and you will find Him lightening your burdens. He will carry your load. He will carry you. If you doubt that, talk to Gary's family. They continue to love and praise and worship the God who created them, the God who redeemed them, the God who lives in them. They know, now more than ever before, where the Light is. The Light is in Jesus.

No one understands unjust murder better than God. He personally experienced it when His only Son died. No one understands darkness better than God. His Son's death was the darkest day in history. His bright love pierces the darkness and gives us hope in a hopeless world. Our hope is not in health, wealth, family, retirement or grandchildren. Our hope is in God and God alone.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ... have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them ... Be very careful then, how you live-not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:8, 15-16).