Missing Man - Found

What a day it has been. We received news via a police press release this morning that Tim Bosmas body has been found on the accused farm property.

I cannot imagine what his family, especially his wife, is going through right now.

I and many others do not even know this man, but this tragedy has hit hard for many people. Why? If you really think about it, people go missing almost every day, so what was it about this case that captured so many people? The Christian bond? The fact that this could have been anybody's husband, brother, son?

What he did is what many people have done: sell something on kijiji. And the fact that he hopped into his truck to take the two men for a test drive is not something uncommon.

I think of how we bought our trailer. We found an ad on kijiji out in a rural area. We went together with no one knowing where we were. We met the people at a farm and looked at their trailer which was in a barn. It was dark out. We never gave danger a thought.

Mr. Bosma's case has hung heavily around many people these last 8 days. God's throne was approached on his behalf by thousands, praying that he may be found and brought home. But now with this tragic end, not only are prayers being offered on behalf of this family, but many questions in regards to our faith in God are being asked.

And you know what? It has been very hard to not have certain questions myself toward God. It is when I hear news like this that questions pile up in my head, questions that I know I should not be asking. All my questions are directed toward the One who is in complete control of everything. I am thankful that I may go to Him, but I pray that I go to Him remembering who He is and who I am; that my questions remain as that, questions, not turning into accusations. Reading Job has definitely put things into perspective. Talk about a man that went through hardship. And yet, after Job and all his friends are done speculating as to why these hardships happened to Job, God then asks Job a series of questions that remind him (and us) that God's ways are best. Questions like:

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" Job 38: 4

"Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out he Bear with its cubs?" Job 38: 31, 32

"Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?" Job 38: 35

"Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?" Job 38: 26, 27

Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his?" Job 39: 9

I know that the devil is strong, but I cannot forget that the Holy Spirit is stronger. I need to hang onto the words written in His Word, the Book of all Comfort. May we not focus only on the evil that has happened, but also focus on how this has brought many Christians together, witnessing their faith, hope and comfort to the One and only True God.

And may we never forget when 2000 years ago, it looked like evil had won, with our Saviour on the cross. But 3 days later He rose again, conquering death!!! We look forward to the Day when we and all who have died in the Lord will rise again to live on the new earth.

While I am so thankful for the Bosma family that there is closure, that they know where their loved one is, this is just the beginning of a very long and difficult journey for them. May this almighty and powerful God give to each and everyone of them what they may need in the days/weeks/months and years to come.

For them, life will never be the same. For us, life will continue on. But we will never forget Mr. Tim Bosma.