Tribute to our dear brother in Christ and faithful elder Carl Craig By Jeff Cochran

O Lord God Almighty, Loving Father, we thank You for the privilege and the pleasure of having given us Carl Craig to fellowship with as a brother, a comrade, a friend. He has fought the good fight of faith, and we now hear that he has finished his course, to suffer here no more. Brother Carl is now fully and completely recovered! forever and ever! We all look forward to seeing him soon (and indeed soon it shall be!). Yes, praise God, brother Carl has gone on to receive his reward, now reaping the inconceivably wonderful promises that the Lord has so graciously made to all who will simply trust and follow Him. Lord please strengthen us, for we must tarry here just a bit longer. O Father God, we beg of You to graciously grant us an eternal perspective, even a glimpse of what Carl now sees and understands, that the psalmist's prayer would be our own: "Turn my eyes away from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy way" (Psalm 119:37); and help us to live every moment that we have remaining, with our eyes fixed on You. We thank you, Daddy, that regardless of the suffering before us that we may have to endure, it is our great privilege as Christians to die comfortably, by faith, being comforted by your promises, knowing that we have nothing to fear if we are truly abiding in You. Father God, we beg You to strengthen our faith, and help us to finish our course as we ought, with the little time that is still allotted to us, ever praising and worshiping You, that we may hear You say on that most solemn day, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:23). In light of what we as children of God have to look forward to, let us now exultantly say together, "O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55), for "we are more than conquerors through Christ!" (Romans 8:37).