On January 17th 2019, Dr. Michael Roe suddenly passed away and went to be with the Lord. Michael was a member of Alpine Bible Church in Lehi, UT. A little over a year ago Michael had temporarily moved to serve as an Optometrist among the Crow Nation in Montana and the Navajo Nation in Arizona. Prior to Dr. Roe’s death, he wrote a letter to his family and friends in the event that he was to suddenly pass away. To those who knew Mike, you knew him as a great friend who deeply loved Jesus. Here are his last words. May it encourage you in Christ.
(A special thanks to the Roe family for giving us permission to post this letter.)
“…Your friendship was cherished while I was among you and now it will be a lasting memorial to my surviving family members. Do not mourn over my departure from the world for I am with my Heavenly Father. Rejoice that I am with him now. In life I was full of sin and now I am glorified in Him. I am happy to be with my Savior, Jesus Christ.
While I lived among you, I tried to impart what little wisdom I have gained in my life to my family and friends. Now on the occasion of my earthly death, I have one more opportunity to impart a message to each of you. I want to begin by acknowledging each of you who knew me in life. Each and every one of you contributed to the person I became. Thank you for helping me through my journey in life. I hope that the person you considered me to be lighted your path in some way. Whatever light I had while I was in the world came from God. He deserves all the praise for the good things I did in my life. Thank you for considering me to be your friend, your brother, your son, and your father. You each gave me strength when I needed courage, you gave me praise when I was discouraged, you gave me love when I was lonely, and most of all you gave me happiness in knowing each of you. I am indeed a wealthy man to have so many who love me.
Be a peacemaker, hold no grudge against any man or woman. Life is love. Without love we cease to be a God-like people. All are God’s creatures and are worthy of Love. Forgive, and hold no anger against any person. God loves each of us just as we are. That is why I love the hymn “just as I am,” so much. I certainly did not deserve God’s love and yet it was mine only for the asking. So it is with each of you. If you want his love you can have it. Actually, He gives it freely even if you express no interest in that love. HE desires that each of us come to love him. He certainly loves us.
There are those among you that I have hurt. Please forgive me! Sometimes we don’t fully understand why people do what they do, but each of us is capable of hurting one another. I love all of you. I know that my children may feel that I didn’t give them all the time that they deserved. I want to let you know I love each of you in ways that you can only come to know after you have children of your own. Each of you has a special place in my heart and have my unconditional love.
There may be some among you who have regrets. Maybe there was some injustice you think you performed on me? Or, maybe there was something you wanted to tell me before my death that you never had an opportunity to communicate? Do not fret over either one. I have forgiven all injustices committed against me as my Heavenly Father has forgiven me. I also know that your unshared feelings are genuine, and I am sure God will make me aware of your concerns. Share it with Him and He will share it with me.
Some of you may be asking the question, “Why?”. That seems to be a universal question. We always want to know why bad things happen. Don’t expect an answer. I earnestly believe that eventually you will be comforted if you allow God to perform the comforting. Further, God will use this event to strengthen your relationship with Him. If you will only let Him work in your life. Seek God, and he will be forever faithful to you. It is your relationship with Him that is the most important relationship you will have in your life. All too often we seek others to satisfy our needs. We do need others, but it is only when you seek God that you can achieve true healing. Without Him healing will never be completed.
Just think, right now I am in a place where there is no pain, no fear, no conflicts, no crime, only LOVE. Just think how happy I am. Wouldn’t you be happy in a place like that? By now I have been greeted by dearly departed friends and loved ones. And I am living in the presence of my best friend, Jesus. Halleluiah, I am home at last. And you know what? I will be there to welcome you when you arrive, and we can shout for joy together. What a glorious day that will be. But there is a condition to that greeting. I can’t greet you if you haven’t said YES to the Savior. You must come to the realization that you are spiritually bankrupt and only the atonement of Jesus can make you worthy of the grace of God. I want to greet you dear friend. Make sure that we can have that reunion. Let Jesus reside in your heart. Allow Him to forgive your sins and turn your life over to the Creator God, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings—Jesus.
For now, I await the new age. The Second Coming of my Lord and the resurrection of all those who have died in Christ. I await that new body that doesn’t decay. New Creation Isaiah 65:17-25
