This past Monday was my cousin Kyle’s funeral. And in the midst of thick tears, deep heartaches, and shattered hopes, I realized something about Kyle that I never realized before–until the day of his funeral service.
What Kyle’s Friend Said
One of Kyle’s best friends, Jeremiah*, said during the funeral that his friendship with Kyle was similar to that of David and Jonathan (see 1 Samuel 18:1). But his next words about Kyle planted in me a seed to reconsider who Kyle was in my own life:
“I was not David; I could never be David. But Kyle was David.“
Later on that night after the funeral ended, as I laid there on my bed, I really thought about Jeremiah’s words.
“Kyle was David”
Then I wondered–how was Kyle like David to me?
An Unanswered Question Solved
In Acts 13:22, we read:
And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ –(Acts 13:22)
This verse is where we get the concept of David, the poor shepherd boy turned mighty king, being “a man after God’s own heart.”
But I’ve always wondered if such men still existed in our day. Could there really be some guy out there somewhere, who was “after God’s own heart,” walking among the Millennial generation? Is there really a young person who seriously followed God the best he could? For awhile, I thought such a person could never genuinely exist in such a selfish, consumerist era.
But then I realized I was wrong.
Little did I know that the young man who was “after God’s own heart” lived only 20 minutes from my house in a humble, little apartment.
Little did I know that the young man who was “after God’s own heart” used to dribble around a basketball for his high school’s basketball team.
Little did I know that the young man who was “after God’s own heart” would drive to a certain church on Saturdays as much as he was able to, to see his dearly beloved auntie, uncle, and cousin.
It crashed down on me like a ton of bricks that my cousin Kyle was a young man “after God’s own heart” in the midst of a selfish, consumerist era.
Yes, like David, Kyle made mistakes and he didn’t always have everything right. But like David, he knew and believed that God was “good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy” (Psalm 86:5).
Blessed
Just seriously considering the whole thought that I not only knew a young man “after God’s own heart,” but I was also related to him, grew up with him, spent time with him, played with him, and talked with him, gave me a certain feeling.
The feeling of being blessed to have known a true modern David in my life: Kyle Towai.
Rest in peace, bro. I can’t wait to see you again on that day when “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). I’m so thankful for the hope in my heart that on that resurrection morning we’ll finally again be able to “speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” (2 John 12).
Called To Be A David
reader, whether or not you personally knew my dear cousin Kyle, we’re each called to be a David. Like David, we’re called by God to seek His face (Psalm 27:8). And I know Kyle sought God as best as he could.
But what about you, dear reader? Do you feel like seeking God is a major struggle for you in your daily life? If so, I appeal to you to just pray:
This Blog Post is Dedicated in Loving Memory of Kyle Towai (11/25/1996–5/3/2019)
*Not his real name
Terrific work! This is the kind of information that are meant to be shared around the internet. Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this publish higher! Thanks =)
Well put article, Kyle will be missed.
Very touching and great article! May we all strive to ‘be like David’.