Reproach of Men

On January 7th, 2011, Ethan Hardin, Sgt. US Army, was killed in action in Afghanistan. Today, January 22nd, his body was laid to rest in Round Mountain Cemetery with full military honors. By all accounts, Ethan is a brother in Christ. He also was a member of Mission Boulevard Baptist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

I know Ethan as I was at one time a member of Mission Boulevard, and studied under his father, Tom Hardin, who is a missionary of Mission Boulevard. I know it is never the desire of a father (or of any parent) to bury their child, so Ethan’s passing is a particular grief.

There are perhaps many things which could be explored as to why Ethan has passed on, but they are for a different time, and perhaps a different post. Most importantly, those things are for his family and his church to examine and seek the face of the LORD for answers. They do not belong to me.

We know, or should know, that the LORD never takes anyone before their time. Thus, knowing the LORD took Ethan at the young age of 25 should make us consider where we stand before the LORD, and seriously consider what He has called us to do. Nonetheless, should we falter in that, if we are the LORD’s we ought to know there is mercy and forgiveness with the LORD.

To remind us of that, and that we may remember Ethan Hardin (for I am certain Ethan now knows of the mercy, grace and forgiveness of the LORD firsthand), the following hymn is given.1

In Christ,
Paul W. Davis

1. No, it is not Baptists singing it. I could not find any recording done by Baptists [↩]