Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus


There is a very simple song written by Fernando Ortega and recorded by many that has the best four word chorus anyone could ever ask for; “Give me Jesus”. The version I enjoy most was recorded by Vince Gill. The biggest challenge of this song however is to get through it without weeping profusely, which I might add I have rarely if ever been able to accomplish. A few mornings ago Dawn and I had one of those extra special opportunities to spend a quiet moment together prior to the waking of the remainder of our household. Being fully aware that these opportunities may soon be gone and now unable to converse with Dawn I chose to play Vince’s version of the song over Dawn. As I sat there listening to the words and thinking of our many years shared in service to the Lord, (crying of course) a particular line of the song struck me as it never had before. While I’m convinced that Fernando had an understanding of the depth of this phrase (after all he wrote it), I’m equally convinced that most people are unable to, simply because they have never truly needed to. In this phrase he writes; “you may have all of this world, just give me Jesus”. You see this statement can easily be accepted with the simplicity of which it was written, however when you truly have had all this world can offer, and have come to the end of days, it is only then that you truly do understand how little this world can give. You see Dawn has been diagnosed, she has received all of the treatments, there is nothing else that this world can offer her, I, our children, or anyone else that will take away the pain of our impending loss, her gain. The world had its chance with Dawn, in this life it offered her despair, trials, pain, and eventually sickness unto death. Yet in its attempt to utterly destroy her she has become victorious, she found hope, joy, salvation, love, and so much more! She found along her way a savior, a promise for the future. She defied the world, she beat the odds, and she shared this Jesus with everyone she met, Dawn has given her all and now she will follow the lead of her savior and defeat the world one final time! She will reap the rewards that the world cannot give, healing for an eternity, a crown of jewels, a reward fit for a queen, all that the world could not give she will soon receive! All heaven awaits the arrival of this well known servant of the King and surely she will hear Him say “Well done thou good and faithful servant”. If there is one message I would choose to pass along to all who read these words it would be this: the trials, tribulations, troubles and despair that you have experienced in this life are all the world truly has to offer, and nothing more! Oh you may think that there is more, sure you may enjoy sports, family, and so much more, all of which I too enjoy. But one the one thing you can never have without Jesus is the most important of all, eternal peace. This peace cannot be purchased, it cannot be earned, it cannot be found in any other way, it can only be found by believing that Jesus is the son of God and by choosing to allow Him to be Lord of your life. “You may have all of this world, just give me Jesus”!

Gene Burroughs

PS Dawn is unresponsive these days, her pain level is rather high and the slightest movement causes her great pain and frustration. There will soon be a day when her healing is complete; either here or in heaven she will be healed. This healing will come by His hand and in His time, and as my children and I have talked at length about it will be ultimately the very best because after all He wants what is best for all of us, even those who deny Him.