Zac Smith—of the viral Don’t Waste Your Cancer video—passed away yesterday. If you remember the video, then you know the inspiring testimony he left behind. Many of you were encouraged; in fact, a few of you who have questions about Jesus were motivated to e-mail me after watching his video, curious about this radical display of hope. I praise God for that.

Death is a real thing. It’s stench is overwhelming. It’s affects often devastating. Yet, in the midst of sin and death, the Christian finds reason to hold fast hope and cling to the Lord Jesus. Because by his sovereign grace—through our faith in his accomplished work—we have obtained eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

So we celebrate two things with this news:

1. The end of a brother’s year-long battle with cancer.
2. The beginning of a brother’s eternity-long joy in the presence of his God!

What a joyful day this must be for Zac Smith, to be with his Savior. What a day!

Yesterday, his pastor wrote:

At 3:24 this afternoon I received a text from Shane Duffey, our creative arts pastor, that simply said, “Zac has died.” (Many of you will remember Zac from the video below that we showed at NewSpring Church 12 weeks ago today.)

…

I would ask you to please keep Mandy, his wife, in your prayers…as well as their children Luke, Jake and Lizzy. AND I will keep everyone posted as to when Zac’s memorial service will take place. One of his requests to me was that we live stream this service so that his friends from all over the world (literally) could participate.

Also…here is a link to his blog…I encourage you to read through his writings some time this week…he knew what was in his body, he knew pain and suffering in ways many of us will never know…but He KNEW JESUS, and THAT was the difference maker!!!

“…God is still good…to God be the glory!” Zac Smith

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

One of the album’s songs I’m really loving at the moment is the song In Exile.

THRICE // ‘IN EXILE’

I am an exile, a sojourner
A citizen of some other place
All I’ve seen is just a glimmer in just a shadowy mirror
But I know one day we’ll see face to face

I am a nomad, a wanderer
I have nowhere to lay my head down
There’s no point in putting roots too deep when I’m moving on
Not settling for this unsettling town

My heart is filled with songs of forever
A city that endures, where all is made new
And no I don’t belong here
I’ll never call this place my home
I’m just passing through

I am a pilgrim, a voyager
I won’t rest until my lips touch the shore
Of the land that I’ve been longing for as long as I’ve lived
Where there’ll be no pain or tears anymore

—-end song—-

Such a rad song. As I listen to it, I consider the words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the saints of the church in Philippi:

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

(Philippians 3:12-21)

Oh, Lord, haste the day.