Today I am giving thanks and praise for the life of Christian Schmidt. Early this morning, Christian opened his eyes and beheld the face of his Savior. He was only 21 years old, but he spent his time here pouring himself out for the sake of the gospel and the glory of Christ.
God had called him to pastor. He was still in school when, earlier this year, he found out his cancer had returned. No one would have faulted Christian for withdrawing from school to finish out his days with his family, enjoying what time he had left. Instead, Christian resolved to finish out his days fulfilling God’s call to be a minister of the Gospel. He knew his time was short, so he filled his calendar with as many speaking engagements as God would give him.
God used Christian to impact hundreds of people over these last six months, my family included. He spoke to anyone and everyone who would listen, from teens in their youth groups and baptist men’s breakfasts to the prisoners at the county jail. He kept a blog for his studies and sermons. I hope you’ll take some time to read and be challenged by Christian’s testimony of the power of Christ. His “Bucket List” was most-challenging to me at the time of its writing. (And please, please say a prayer for his family. He leaves behind two godly, but broken-hearted, parents and a brother.) His motto was “Live Weak,” and this is some of what he shared in his last post, Soli Deo Gloria to the End:
Some may say that I don’t need to push myself too hard, but this is looking at my strength rather than seeing it as God who strengthens me, “with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Besides, if I push myself too hard, then I will get to go to heaven sooner. It is a win-win situation regardless of how you look at it. Praise be to His holy, righteous name. I rejoice that I have been chosen to suffer to for the glory of God.
Amen.
Leslie Wiggins 
11 responses to “Thanksgiving Day 2”
What an amazing testimony. I’ve bookmarked his blog. Thanks for sharing it.
LikeLike
“The way to truly honor the memory [of those that pass on] is to tell others of the work God did in their life. This will glorify God, rather than the human but will allow us not to forget them. Instead of having a vigil or ceremony in remembrance of me, I would like people to start telling others of the gospel and what Christ did in my life. I want what I did only to be told in light of the fact that it was God’s grace that enabled and allowed me to do it.”
Christian Schmidt – Sermon on Galatians 1:24 – “And they glorified God because of me.” August 2010
LikeLike
Wow. Amazing. And praying for his family too.
LikeLike
Oh my. Crying as I read this, and I didn’t even know Christian. You honor his life beautifully by sharing his love for the Lord.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this, Leslie. His testimony reminds of something John Piper said (paraphrasing badly here) – that the glory God receives is so much greater when we suffer well than if we were healed.
LikeLike
Praying for his family, Leslie. What a God-glorifying life he lived.
LikeLike
Praying for his family today.
Thank you for sharing this, may we live with our eyes on Jesus every single day.
LikeLike
This was a touching tribute to a life well lived. I am sorry for your grief. Grateful for eternal hope.
LikeLike
What an amazing testimony. I plan to visit his website. Thank you for sharing this.
LikeLike
I am thankful for the connections the Internet and blogging make possible. The “small” stories that loom large in our lives have an opportunity to touch many lives through this medium. Thanks for posting this story of a young brother’s life. We may think it was too short, but in God’s perfect will, it was just the right length.
LikeLike
Leslie, What an amazing story this! How wonderful that I should find and read these encouraging words today. Christian’s testimony will live on and continue to touch many lives now. May God bless his family with the comfort of Christ.
Thank you sister!
LikeLike