Saying good-bye to Matt Dodd, for a time.

Matt Dodd is at his heavenly home, but it has been a weighty week.

For those that did not hear, our beloved friend and bother in Christ, Matt Dodd passed away on Tuesday, July 18th.  He left behind his wife Cameron and their four children:  Susanna, Benaiah, Onesimus & Mary.

The emotions have been mixed for us:  Joy coupled with sorrow and hope with sadness.  I know how we are feeling is same as some of you who are reading.  With seasons of trial it is always wise to remind ourselves of what is TRUE!  I wanted to share some truths we have been dwelling on in light of this sobering news.

Biblical truths regarding Matt.

• Matt already had eternal life before his death, because he believed Jesus died on the cross for his sins:  John 3:36, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

• Matt’s belief in Jesus is the only way to everlasting life with Christ after death:  John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

• Matt is currently living in a place that Jesus has been busy preparing for him:  John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

• Matt has no more pain, sorrow, sin or tears in Christ’s presence:  Revelation 21:4, “He (Jesus) will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

• Matt’s earthly body “sleeps” waiting the resurrection of the dead:  1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”

Biblical truths regarding God’s Glory

• Everything in this world belongs to God:  Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”

• Because he made everything, he is sovereign over everything:  Exodus 4:11, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”  Also:  Deuteronomy 32:39, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

• God fashions everyone in the womb:  Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

• God only gives good gifts:  James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

• God uses ALL THINGS for good:  Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

• God uses trials, suffering and hardship to show the genuineness of a believer’s faith to others:  1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you (scattered believers) rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

• God uses trials to produce perseverance; growing the believer more into the image of Christ:  James 1:2-4, “ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Biblical truths regarding Cameron, Susanna, Benaiah, Onesimus & Mary

• God is providing and caring from them now:  Psalm 146:9, “The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”

• God acts as a just judge in the case of a widow and the fatherless:  Deuteronomy 10:18, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”

• God is using this trial for their ultimate good:  Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Biblical truths God calls the Church to do

• Cameron should be shown honor:  1 Timothy 5:3, “Honor widows who are truly widows”

• Cameron should be cared for and visited by believers:  James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

• The body of Christ is called to care for “one another” in the 59 “one another” passages – here are a few of them.

• • Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
  • Ephesians 5:19, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart”
  • Check out Desiring God for more:  http://www.desiringgodchurch.org/dgcc/oneanother.pdf

Lord willing these truths will be an encouragement to you all.  We are thinking about and praying through these truths; we would ask you to consider doing the same.  I would encourage everyone who knows the Dodds to come along side them and care for them during this season.

I wrote a previous article about Matt’s character and pursuit of Christ here:  https://jeremyandlorie.com/portrait-humility-matt-dodd/