There was a man sent from God, his name was John. Today we celebrated the life of John R. Sebastian. He was a good man, not a perfect man, but a man of God who loved his Savior. Born February 1, 1953 he turned 62 this year. He loved to help people through his career in law enforcement and served various communities across our country. Most of his years were spent here in Lebanon County PA where he was born, grew up and raised a family of four children with his wife Loretta. His licence plate “DA-HEAT” spoke of his awesome sense of humor and it probably hung on 20 different cars and trucks as it seemed John could never find just the right one.

John had a special magic with teenagers! They loved him! He would have been the ultimate Youth Pastor but then he would have been limited to only the kids in his church. John rather loved and served the kids across all churches in the community. Everywhere he went he’d run into teenagers with whom he’d made some kind of lasting positive contact and impression. Especially when he served as the Resource Officer at the Northern Lebanon School District. Even while a cop it wasn’t his goal to toss kids in jail but to redeem them and re-direct their lives which he did time and time again.

John was a witness for Jesus! He defended the faith quite well against the critics with very reasoned and graceful responses. He spoke often to others about his faith and shared the Gospel message, that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day defeating sin, Satan and Death. He passionately encouraged people to turn from their sins and trust Christ as Savior on a regular basis. Even when he wasn’t actually speaking of his Lord his smile was beaming the message that this “big guy” was someone different and that Jesus was behind that big smile, big handshake and big hug.

He would have been SO proud of his kids and grandkids today who bravely stood and spoke of their departed loved one. They read Scriptures, his daughter Randy read a poem she wrote for him and his son Tim was amazing who, like a pastor, made us all feel welcomed and appreciated and loved. He so wonderfully (just like John would have) made us feel special and loved as part of the family.

There was a man sent from God and his name was _____. Now it’s our turn. John is policing the golden streets of heaven, it’s a lot safer there now. 🙂 Let’s put our name in that space as we take the baton and share Jesus with a lost world that is in so much need of a Savior. Let’s be the friend to others that John was to us, let’s show love to the stranger, stretch out a warm hand, give a bear hug, for our brother John is now in Beulah Land (his favorite song).

I’m kind of homesick, for a country, to which I never been before. No sad goodbyes, will there be spoken, where time won’t matter anymore!  Beulah land, I’m longing for you and some day on thee I’ll stand. There my hope shall be eternal, Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land.

I love you man! See you in Beulah Land!