Nelson Mandela - Faithful Servant, Courageous Warrior, God Lover and Peace Maker

The former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, passed on to glory today.  Mark this day in your calendar for it is the day that the world will never be same again.  An incredible icon and legacy of greatness and service to mankind has left us and the void will not soon be filled.  He has fought a good fight and has kept the faith in spite of the unimaginable challenges that he faced and overcame in his life.  After risking his life and the life of his family, imprisoned for years and sacrificing everything, he brought an end to apartheid, and liberated 34 million South African people socially and politically.  He went on to become a statesman not just for South Africans but for all people everywhere living under the tyranny of oppression and racism.  He is a champion of justice and freedom.

Today he has achieved the highest office that any man or woman can achieve in life, and that is to be in the presence of God almighty.  He has set the bar very high as a great civil rights leader, lawyer, and community organizer—a bar that may be impossible to surpass.   He was the first black South African to hold the office of President, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election.  He stands in a line of great men and women whom God has blessed us all to know and experience their presence and learn from their leadership and incredible wisdom.   We have witnessed their courage and determination in the face of incredible odds.  We have witnessed their demise at the hands of gunmen, and the clarion call of God has finally reached them, because their bodies have taken all they can handle. 

Thank God for Nelson Mandela and the great men that have come and gone before him.  The world is a better place because of Nelson Mandala.  The light of hope shines even brighter because of the contributions that he and others continue to make to improve the lives of people everywhere.

Farewell, faithful servant, courageous warrior, God lover and peace maker.  We love you and we thank you for all that you have done.  Rest now your weary soul for your work has been done and it is excellent.  Enjoy now the fruit of your faith and labor for your reward has just begun.