Given Grace has been given grace: A tribute

It was only today that I heard of news of a tragedy that happened in my alma mater, The University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB). Given Grace Cebanico, a third year BS Computer Science student, an Evangelical Christian and daughter of a Pastor Jun Cebanico of Binangonan, Rizal, was found dead in a canal with bruises all over her body, her hands tied, tape covering her mouth and a bullet shot in her head. The initial investigation of the police reveals that she may have been raped before being executed.

Family, friends, the UPLB community and alumni clamor for justice to be given to Given Grace. All over Facebook you see pictures of a black ribbon with the words “Justice for Given” written on it.

And I agree. I hope and pray that the criminals who did this to her would be caught and brought to justice. Such things should never be allowed to go unpunished.

My heart goes out to her family and friends. Though I don’t know them personally, I grieve with them. I pray that they may be comforted and strengthened in this trying time.

I’ve seen a lot of blog posts already on news and opinions about what happened. I’m not blogging about this to jump on the bandwagon. Neither am I taking advantage of the tragedy to write about something that some would probably like to read about.

My personal interests are these: firstly, though I don’t know her personally, she is a sister in Christ. Secondly, she is a fellow pastor’s daughter. I’ve got two daughters of my own and I just don’t know how I would personally react if such a thing happens to either of them. Thirdly, a lot of questions have arisen why such a thing would happen and I would like to somehow help bring comfort to her family and friends whom she has left behind.

And lastly, her name, Given Grace. There is surely a reason why her parents gave her such a name. They have a message in that name. God has a message in that name. And by writing about it, I hope to give tribute to her, to her parents and, most of all to the Lord Who gave her and all of us grace.

I will not even try to explain why such a thing happened. There are some things we will never ever know in this world. One thing I know, God is NOT the Author of such things. Why He would allow such a thing to happen? Pastor Jun Cebanico, Given Grace’s father, says, “we don’t understand, but God understands.”

I admire the faith of Pastor Jun Cebanico and his trust in God. He knows it is okay to grieve. He grieves but not like one who grieves without hope because he knows that his daughter has merely fallen asleep and will rise again when the Lord Jesus returns. He knows that her spirit is with the Lord.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Why does he believe this? Because just like her name says, Given Grace had been given grace. And more than receiving JUSTICE, Given Grace has been JUSTIFIED by God’s grace because she put her faith in Christ Jesus.

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-24

‘Justified’ means “just as if we have never sinned”. It means: “to be declared righteous even when we are not, even when we were helpless sinners”. It comes not by our own efforts but Christ gives it freely by His grace to those who put their faith in Him alone, just as Given Grace had done.

This could be God’s intended message of her life. This is probably the message her parents wanted to send when they named her Given Grace. This IS the message of Jesus Christ when He too innocently suffered on the cross for us so that He may give us grace, the forgiveness of all our sins, the crediting to us of His righteousness that we don’t deserve.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:3-5

You see, physical death and suffering is not the greatest tragedy of all. Eternal death is. However, by the grace of God through her faith in Christ, Given Grace has been spared eternal death and has been given the gift of eternal life. Her death is a tragedy but it does not end in tragedy. This is why the Apostle Paul says:

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55

I believe that this is why her father can go through this and mourn and still have faith. I believe that it is because he knows that though Given Grace is no longer with her earthly father, she is already safe in the arms of her Heavenly Father – with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears, no more shame.

And though she is no longer with us, the message of Given Grace’s life rings through her death. It is a clarion call to everyone who now is familiar with her name:

“You too have been GIVEN GRACE by God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All you have to do to receive that precious given grace is to put your faith in Christ alone because He already paid the ultimate cost for you.” 

(Addendum: I just saw this song and video made as a tribute to Given Grace.  It was composed and made by a friend, Juni Frio.  It has a message similar to my post above. I hope it touches you just as it has touched me).

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Related posts:
Given Grace – When God Doesn’t Make Sense
“…God understands.” – Pastor Jun Cebanico

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