We had a dear man from church who died this past week. He and his family had trusted God to provide healing - which He did, by taking him to heaven. While the healing is absolute and permanent, it was not the healing we had (selfishly) been praying for all along.
Healing. hm. For whose benefit do we pray? once they die, do we continue to wish them back? Is that questioning GOd's decision or just being human and missing them? some of both, i guess. There are just times when God's decisions don't seem right, good or the BEST. Then again, we do live such 'right this minute' types of lives...we don't know what good God has in mind over the long range. Obviously, for our friend, the HOMECOMING in heaven was far better than even his own beloved family could have provided, had he been healed physically on earth. All needs met. All pain removed. Sickness forever banished. His heart is now full, complete and he is happier than he's ever been.
So why do we find it so hard to be happy for him?
we aren't there yet.....
we can't imagine it....
we only know what has been lost....and we grieve it all, quite rightly.
But one day - between pouring coffee and putting cream in, we will find out. One day between turning the water on and putting the toothpaste on our toothbrush, we will understand. In a flicker of time, it will all be changed...and so will we.
One day we too will see what eternity looks like. And depending on our belief in Christ's salvation on our behalf, we will understand pain and separation forever, or we will understand being completely happy and finally home.
A few Bible verses read during the funeral today made an impression on me. The first one was Revelation 14:13
"Then i heard a voice from heaven say, ...Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord..."
At first that sounded weird to my ears...But John who wrote Revelation didn't really write a lot of 'normal-sounding' stuff!! A lot of imagery- no wonder! all he saw must have been difficult to use normal language for!!!
I digress...
"Blessed" it said...happy. "For to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil 1:21)So while we enjoy the presence of Christ in the here and now - we will be transported by death ( a mere doorway) into the magnificence of heaven! That's good reason to happy, if you ask me.
"the best is yet to come"....that line gives me chills. I like to imagine what is better that being with loved ones, seeing sensational sunsets, hearing the laughter of babies, receiving and giving love....using my imagination to make me 'homesick' for heaven. To give it some shape, substance, even if it's imaginary for now - and likely pretty lame, compared to the real thing. but it's a start to imagine it and make my heart yearn for it somehow.
The other verse was in Psalm 23:6 - the last verse. It hit me in a new way today - maybe i've not paid attention before, but in the context of a funeral, it was new.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
The first half is familiar enough - during this life, i will enjoy God's goodness and mercy - his positive help and favour toward me. But this was a funeral...so i wondered on what it said about 'after' this life... and then saw the second half of it.."and i will dwell in the house of the Lord forever". OH!!!
So this life, as one of God's saved and undeserving children, is one of favour, hope and joy, and then onto the best thereafter!!!
"house of the Lord"...ok, let's call it God's house. Apparently it's an awesome place - it will have all the love, goodness, peace and kindness that we keep envisioning for our own homes (especially during Christmas, we hope for this more than ever!) Does some of our disillusionment about our families come during Christmas/Easter because we have put our hopes in the wrong place? Can we have all of these in this broken world? GOod hope, wrong timing/location.
So what if we took that good desire for these things and put them somewhere it is guaranteed to work out!? Would we accept our family disappointments without despairing? "the best is yet to come - i can wait because it's certain.."
So our friend who died last week is now 'graduated' from this broken world, filled with loved ones, mind you, onto the place where his fondest wishes, dearest hopes are all fulfilled. Where every limitation is removed; every tear is wiped dry once and for all; where love is experienced in its proper fullness; where we see Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit clearly and no longer 'through a glass darkly'!!!
Yes, our friend is gone ahead. We cannot hold him here.
Would we want him to leave all that? just to ease our pain? or can the love we have for him delight in his receiving all God in Christ has promised. His reward. His home at last.
So this Christmas, as we welcome the Christ-child into our hearts, always keeping an eye on the horizon and on the clouds, from which He'll descend, let's remember that our hope is secure. Our future is certain.
And departed loved ones await our arrival....as they celebrate, laugh, rejoice and enjoy their eternity with God.
Merry Christmas, friends.
Stand firm. Your hope is secure.
"Your salvation is nearer now than when you first believed" Rom 13:11b
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