Randy Simmons: A Minister of God to You For Good.
The Los Angeles Police Department is mourning the death of one of its SWAT officers. Officer Randall (Randy) Simmons has completed his mission here on earth and has gone on to be in glory with his Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. As I listened to the testimony of His mother, I was greatly encouraged by her words. I remember her saying that she did not understand why this has happened, but she does not question the will of God. As I heard her boldly declare that her son was a servant of Jesus, it emboldened me as a soldier of the Cross!
The Triune God of Scripture has His soldiers embedded everywhere, including the Los Angeles Police Department. I know of soldiers currently serving on the force, without shame, who are greatly encouraged to see the testimony of Officer Randy Simmons! These officers serve with conviction, integrity, honor, courage, and commitment. They are ministers of God to the public for good (Romans 13:4). As this Scripture goes on to say, “But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”
Though we mourn His death, it is with honor that we recognize he gave his life serving the public as an officer of the law. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones,” the Scripture declares in Psalm 116:15.
Here at Biblicalthought, we salute the men and women who put their lives on the line day in and day out; police officers, firefighters, Soldiers, Marines, and all those serving abroad in the armed forces of the United States of America! We keep you in prayer and ask that God protect you and put spiritual soldiers from His Army before you to declare His Truth.
A message to those police officers who follow the example of Randy Simmons: Remember his testimony, his death is not in vain. Though hard for you to understand why, what matters is that great day of accountability to God. We are all appointed to die one day and then comes the judgment. As you continue in your service, pay closer attention to those officers who serve as soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ! Though they may “irritate” you, they have been placed where they are by divine providence to impact your life. These are men of courage, men of honor, who care not only for the lives of their partners, but more importantly for condition of their souls.
May God strengthen the family of Officer Randall Simmons and place His hedge about them. Know that you are in our prayers and we have been greatly blessed to hear the testimony of your son, father, and friend. May those of us who are still in commission here on earth, find, follow, and finish God’s will for our lives as Randy did for his!
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen”
Remember that our God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living! (Mark 12:27)
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
Stephen Macasil
Mario,
“As I listened to the testimony of His mother, I was greatly encouraged by her words. I remember her saying that she did not understand why this has happened, but she does not question the will of God. As I heard her boldly declare that her son was a servant of Jesus, it emboldened me as a soldier of the Cross!”
That says it all brother! Not questioning the will of God is proof that her Anchor is holding. That can’t be bought with cash, only Christ’s blood can purchase a lost sinner, providing her with the knowledge of the sovereign God who works out all things for the good of the elect, as well as the faith to believe it in “real-time!”
Feb 15th, 2008
Reformed Mama
Imagine if we had 100…or more…policemen who lived and acted in such a godly manner…doing the work of the Father! Wow! I listened to some of the memorial service coverage on the radio…very moving.
I consider the homeschool movement to be a part of the New Reformation…raising up a million+ young ones to go out into our world of teachers, doctors, congressman, policemen etc…to proclaim God’s truth to His Glory!
Feb 16th, 2008
Mario
We have been talking about revival! May God revive the sleeping church, maybe the world will not get “better,” but may the gospel go forth with power, according to Scripture alone!
Feb 16th, 2008
Stacie H
It was a blessing to read the testimonies of the lives he touched and the Godly example he lead. Praise God for his example! We must remember to keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer as they mourn for the loss of their Father, Husband, Son, Brother, leader and friend. Randy Simmons has found, followed and finished God’s will for his life and finished the race set before him. By God’s grace let us do the same.
Feb 16th, 2008
Mario Herrera
See Officer Randall Simmons mother speak of his son. Click on the video section with her picture:
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5786840&version=22&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1
Feb 16th, 2008
rosanna
Praise God for His servant Randy Simons. His life will be remembered, for he touched so many lives. His mother can testify that her son was a Christian and the words she spoke on video are to the glory of God. May non-belivers be touched by the videos and the life he led, and may God continue to get the Glory. Randy Simons left a legacy to those young kids, co-workers, family, friends and many others. Remember Romans 8:28. Although it may be hard to understand the “why”, God will accomplish many things out of this situation.
Feb 16th, 2008
Donna
I came to this website from an lapd blog. I just wanted to say that on February 15, 2008 I sat in my home and watched the funeral, family, colleagues and friends, give their testimony. I was touched to the point that I cried for two straight hours over the course of the funeral, and walked out to stand streetside in tribute of Randy as the hearse proceeded down Slauson Avenue. As I stood and waited and watched I wondered at my two hours of crying. Why did I do it. I did not him, I reasoned. Now I know. I was crying for my brother in Christ. No one out there was prouder than I was of our brother. The way his light shone in this dark world, undimmed. Brothers and sisters in Christ always know each other, even if they never formally meet, at least not here on the earth. And I know that LAPD and various other law enforcement can proudly claim many more men and women of Randy’s ilk. Why do I know this, because of Randy’s presence in the police department. May the Lord raise these brave souls up to transform this world as Officer Simmons did.
Feb 25th, 2008
Mario
Donna,
I can see what you are saying! He is now in glory, yet, what stands out now is how he served Christ! The Lord is glorified in the death of His saints. What a blessing it wasn’t a Muslim that died. No religion on the face of this earth offers sinners the glory that is revealed in the Messiah Jesus. He is the Sovereign LORD who calls His saints at their appointed time. “Death and disease march at His orders,” to quote A.W. Pink.
False religion offers false hopes and confusion at the time of death. Only the true divinely revealed religion, the religion revealed in the person and work of Christ offers condemned sinners eternal life by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone! He is now calling all men to repent of sins and turn to the true and living God from false idols. Let the people tell of the great works of Officer Randy Simmons! Let the Buddhist, the Hindu, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, and Atheist see the devotion and passion in His duty. As they do they will see it flowed out of his service and devotion from his union to Christ Jesus the Lord! May this motivate those of us who remain to holiness and to labor all the more for the cause of God and Truth.
Feb 25th, 2008
Donna
Mario, hearing of and getting to know Officer Simmons (even though this occured at his untimely passing) changed my life. It is not just the depraved and sin-sick that need the touch of the Master. Christians who aspire to come up higher in their walk with the Lord, Christians who are beginning to lose heart in their daily walk because of adverse circumstances. We too needed to look upon the radiance of this man’s life, to take encouragement from his powerful witness. This is what Randy did for me, I will pray for his family and friends, and for colleagues and his ministry partners, fervently hoping they are diligent to carry on his spirit-filled works.
Feb 26th, 2008
HECTOR RIOS - ARTERNATIVES
Randy was a good friend. My team and I painted his visions on the giant airbruahed community outreach Glory Kids trucks. He was a true visonary and solid disciplined man with an incredible heart for children and God’s word.
As we sprayed magentas and purples on the backgrounds of these giant portraits of a beautiful African American girl holding a card that states “I can do all things through Christ… which strengtheneth me” or the giant picture of a chubby LA Mexican kid with a missing front tooth, eating a bright green paleta”… Randy would constantly visit us and rejoice in the progress, development of this vision.
Throughout the years we would speak about future work to be done for the ministry he and his wife were involved in…. he always had a good word to speak and an inspiring attitude, juggling his schedule between church, work and Camp Pendelton trainings…. he truly was a devoted Christian family man first… and then a public servant.
HR
Apr 1st, 2008
Mario
Hector, was he a U.S. Marine as well? Thanks for sharing that with us! Can you tell us where these portraits are? Are they murals somewhere? It is great that God is glorified in the death of his saints! While death is grievious from the physical perspective, we knwo spiritually, that it is that veil which we cross into the presence of our Saviour who is Wonderful!
Apr 1st, 2008
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