Richard Williams

In Loving Memory

Richard

Williams

Fifty years ago, January 8, 1975, a baby was born in Lafayette, Indiana. Richard Williams would grow up, with his two brothers, moving from one Navy base to another. Dad, a career Naval Officer, and Mom were faithful to take their sons to church and Sunday school, and AWANA, every week, and to help them learn Bible verses that would guide their lives as they got older, married and started their own families. Early in his teens, Rick recognized that he was a sinner, and he accepted the Lord as his savior.

In 1992 Rick graduated from high school and joined the Marines. He learned quickly, and was promoted quickly. He was a Marine's Marine. He switched to the Navy in 1998 and became a guided missile specialist onboard the USS Yorktown. He was promoted rapidly, and was selected for Chief Petty Officer. In late 2004 he was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center as a Drill Instructor. On January 19, 2005 Rick got married to Erin, and they made plans to move to Great Lakes. Life was very good; they were happy; the future was wide open before them.

Everything changed on January 22, 2005.

That afternoon a former boyfriend of Erin shot both of them. Rick died later that evening from head injuries. Erin survived, but it would take six months of intensive care for her to return home. She has lived with her stepfather ever since.

So, what are the lessons here? One lesson is that God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8,9). We should work hard, and do our best. We should plan for the future. But we don't know what life holds, or when death will come. God is ultimately in control. We need to be prepared for His direction, even His calling us home sooner than we expected.

Another lesson is that many of the people around us do not know that Jesus is more than just a baby in a manager, something to celebrate at Christmas. Jesus is the King of Kings. He loves all people, of all races, and all countries (John 3:16). He wants everyone to know Him and accept Him as Lord of their lives. How will people know this if we don't tell them?

One final lesson. Once we die, there are no "do overs", no second chance (Hebrews 9:27). Either we have accepted the Lord, and we go to heaven. Or, we have rejected the Lord, and we go to hell. You must make that choice now, before it is too late. Don't wait, do it today.