Before she died, Sarah wrote a final message which she hoped people would get to read. It was discovered among her belongings a year later. Now Barnabas Aid has the privilege of sharing it. The below text has been pasted exactly as she wrote it on her iPad. As you will see, our sister in Christ had an inspiring heart for God that never faltered, even as she was dying.
Sarah’s message
"If this is being read in public domain that means I have passed from this life and entered into eternity- into the presence of the Almighty God- the maker of Heaven and of earth. WOW... Hold on- a human, a mortal can stand and not only stand but live in the presence of this Almighty Lord?! Yes. My life on earth has been leading up to this point- the point where I see His Glory! Where I meet my precious Saviour who died for me before I had been born and while I was still in my sin. The Lord, when he formed me in my mother's womb, knit together my body, chose my eye colour, my personality, gave me talents and knew ALL about me, even what would make me laugh (all unknown to my earthly parents)... He also knew my whole life, he knew each day I would be breathing oxygen in my lungs, he knew every decision I would make, including whether I would choose to follow Him or not. He granted me that free will-Being all-knowing He ultimately knew what I would choose, BUT say I hadn't have chose him... I believe He would still have formed me and let me be born and live... AND more astoundingly He wouldn't have loved me any less if I hadn't have chose him, because He is gracious and He shows no partiality. I guess if you are a parent you would understand this concept better- I am assuming parents love their children inherently- purely because they are yours... Not because of what they do. I'm sure a wayward child's actions would grieve their parents, break their heart, sadden them but I imagine it would not make the parents love them any less.
By now, I am almost certain some of you in this room are rolling your eyes inwardly if not outwardly.. But I ask that you listen to the words of this departed soul- please. This Almighty Lord is more than just the creator of the universe... He is a Father. My Father and yours. Though nature seems to exist and reproduce with the circle of life going... It doesn't just happen, nor did it just happen out of nothing... Someone had to design the process... It was HIM. You are all aware that our years on this earth are limited... So what then comes after? Nothing? Do you really believe that because my organs have ceased to work- that the life in me, just died too?! We are more than just flesh, than an animal... We are different and higher than a mere animal because we were granted a soul. A Soul that will live on forever. The question is- where? I believe as this is read I am in the presence of God, and it is here I will spend eternity. No pain, no sickness, no hurt, no disappointment, fully satisfied with my creator, in full joy and fullness of life. So why can I say this with confidence before I have even departed??
Here is my story... I grew up hearing of Jesus, God and going to church, I knew it all, and I do believe I made a profession of faith as a child, however I don't think I knew enough about what I had actually decided. I am thankful for my parents who instilled in me godly morals, which kept me on many occasions from doing really silly things... That being said, when I turned 18- I wanted to break free from what I thought was an oppressive upbringing.. So I rebelled.. The usual teen stuff, though I'm sure it's much tamer to what goes on nowadays... I wanted to rebel against my parents, what my older sisters were like, what people expected me to be.. So I did. I Went to uni and the sin inside me was so great that I was actually consciously planning to go as extremely wild as I could... And the first week of uni began- and I thought I was loving this new found freedom...I scoffed at the wonderful people in my flat who we're Christians because I had developed a loathing towards anything to do with God... I was literally running in the opposite way from God..but as I woke up on the Friday morning after little sleep, too much alcohol and partying... Before I felt hungover or tired I felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. In his great mercy God came to me that morning and not audibly, but in my soul I heard him loving whisper 'what are you doing and where are you going?' 'You know what you need, I am here. It Is your choice Sarah' and I cried and cried- I completely couldn't believe that He would still want me though I had not wanted anything to do with Him. I was also completely convinced that God was real...only I knew how bent on rebellion I was-doing everything I could to get away from God, yet here I was considering a U turn.
I believe there are people in this room listening to this, and God has said or is saying to you today the same thing. It is for you I am writing this. I am praying right now as I write that you would open your ears and listen to Him. Don't get caught up in trying to understand with your mind... He is like the oceans of the earth and your mind is but a teacup- you cannot fully grasp or comprehend Him nor his working. Please stop being so arrogant- you did not form yourself, you do not know yourself in comparison to the one who knows everything. My departing wish is that you would carefully consider all that I've said here. My confidence comes from the promises made by Jesus Christ when he was here on this earth- that He came to give us life in all fullness- that only through Him may we be saved- it is in His righteousness that I have confidence- his blood. Not anything I have done or not done.
For those of you who know Jesus... I will see you on the other side. Please don't mourn for me... I am free from cancer, free from seizures and more fulfilled and happy than any moment I ever had on earth. As I write this I can't even imagine how amazing this will be, because I've had many many wonderful times and experiences in my life! I am sure there will be days when you miss me...but please please please don't let those moments take away from each precious moment that you have, don't let my passing cause you to stumble in your faith. Let it strengthen your faith that God IS real and HE has a purpose for you on this earth!! Enjoy each moment you have and try to keep an eternal perspective, how can you bring God more Glory?
For those of you who are suffering, I feel one of the purposes of my illness was to teach me about suffering. Firstly, no matter how bad, it will never compare to the suffering Jesus faced on the cross, being separated from that father connection, not to mention the physical suffering...because Jesus experienced that suffering He can identify with you as you struggle, so cling to Him. And Trust him no matter what. He is in control despite our lack of understanding.... Be patient, one day when on this side of eternity you will understand. Hallelujah!! I write with confidence that I will be accepted into God's kingdom because I accepted the gift of Jesus' blood, that's all it takes... It isn't about living by a set of rules, it's about a relationship with my Heavenly Father through the blood of Jesus!"
Sarah
A message of faith
Sarah’s final message really demonstrates her firm faith in our Lord and Saviour. Even in her final moments, her heart for Jesus did not waver, and her concern was for those who doubted His saving grace.
To read more about Sarah and understand the context of this message, take a look at Sarah and Timothy’s story.
