On February 27, 1991, Ruth Dillow received the worst news of her life.  Two U.S. Army officers came to her home to notify her that her son, Pfc. Clayton Carpenter, age 20, had died after stepping on a land mine in the Middle East.   He had stepped on the mine just two hours before the Gulf War hostilities ended.  Dillow was devastated.

Imagine her shock when her phone rang two days later and a young man identified himself as her son.  “It was such a shock; I was afraid somebody was playing with my mind,” she later reported.  “I asked him questions only he would know the answers to.”  He answered them all correctly.  Dillow knew that the young man was her son.  Clayton was alive!

Dillow said that her son had called from a battlefield hospital.  He was wounded, but he was very much alive!  He told his mother that he did not know why she had been told that he had died.

The U.S. Army admitted its mistake.  In a prepared statement, officials said that Carpenter ″was mistakenly reported as killed in action on Feb. 27.  In fact, Private Carpenter was lightly wounded when a bomblet exploded...  The U.S. Army regrets the error.”

From receiving the worst possible news to hearing the best, Dillow’s emotions had gone from deep mourning to extreme joy.  She was overjoyed.

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24).  Witnesses, both family and foe alike, observed his death by crucifixion.  Roman soldiers went to the three crosses on Golgotha that day to make sure that the victims had died.  If they had not died, they would break their legs hastening their deaths.  “But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:33-34).

Jesus was buried in a tomb.  His family and His disciples mourned greatly.

On the third day, early one Sunday morning, some women came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body for burial.  When they arrived at His tomb, the stone blocking the entrance had been rolled away and the tomb was empty.  Angelic messengers proclaimed the Good News: “He is not here; for He is risen” (Matthew 28:6).  Jesus had been raised from the dead!  What wonderful news for His family, His disciples, and for you and me.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is wonderful news for you and me because it means that the claims that Jesus made are validated.  It means that the payment for the sins of the world was accepted by God.  It means that we have hope beyond the grave.  His resurrection guarantees us of our own (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The core of the Gospel (the Good News) is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  His death, burial, and resurrection accomplished our salvation.  Now, we must accept His offer on His terms.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms?  You can go from the despair of sin to the delight of salvation and eternal life.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “Soldier Reported Killed in Action Phones Home; Army Regrets Error” by the Associated Press, published March 2, 1991, www.apnews.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org