O Death Where is Thy Sting, Where is Thy Victory?

I have heard the saying, "death is no respecter of age," several times, but this statement has never been more true to me than when we lost our dear friend, Josias Rodriguez in a hiking accident on April 27th. Josias was a nineteen year old student at Ohio Christian University.

I met Josias two months ago on the GO InterNational Great Spring Break trip to Trinidad. There were twenty two Asbury University students, and six OCU students, which made all of us worry if we would be able to become one unified team.  But we soon saw that God had orchestrated this team perfectly and we became more than a team, we became a family. 

And Josias Rodriguez helped make that happen.

From day one we saw that Josias had a heart of gold, an infectious smile, and was the best photo bomber we had ever seen.

More than that, we saw that Josias loved Jesus deeply. 

Everything he did, whether it was getting up at 6 am for time in the Word or ministering to the elderly at the old age home, Josias showed us that his faith was at the center of his being. 

"Josias' love and heart for life and God was incredible! I strive to be more like Josias," Casie Zimmerman, a student from Ohio Christian who went on the trip, said.

Paige Heiple, another team member said, "He was just so happy to be alive, and he lived his life fully for Christ," and Brady Parks who was Josias' roommate in Trinidad said, "He was a faithful man and brother and friend."

As you can see, Josias left a vibrant testimony and we know that he is now in Heaven singing with the angels.  His life and death impacted his friends and family greatly.  We are hurting and we don't understand.  Josias' mother, Judy, spoke at his memorial service at Ohio Christian University.  She challenged us to use Josias' death as a catalyst to live our lives to the fullest for Christ, just as Josias did. She asked us not to wastenour lives becuase we are not guaranteed tomorrow. It is my prayer that we take that challenge to heart and live 100% for Christ.  Please pray for the Rodriguez family, that God will give them peace and comfort in the days to come.  In conclusion, I think it is fitting to share Josias' words on what God meant to him. Read them and apply them to your life like Josias did. 

"I just want to take a moment to brag about my God!! He is omnipotent!! He is omniscient!! He has always been, and He always will be!! He is good!! He is love!! He is my strength!! He is my provider!! He is more than enough!! He is majestic!! He is beautiful!! His thoughts are higher than our thoughts!! His ways are higher than our ways!! He will never leave or forsake us!! He is the Great I Am!! His Word is truth!! His name is above all names!! He will never be defeated!! He is the great Healer!! He calms the storms of life!! He hears our prayers and answers them!! He is victorious!! And HE REIGNS ON THE THRONE FOREVER!!!"

In Loving Memory of Josias Rodriguez

Whitney Ward

GO Staff Writer