But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
We had an unexpected death in the family. My mothers dear cousin was snatched up into the heavens. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. He had prepared a place for her, she had been asking for The Lord to do that very thing or take away the pain that held her captive for years. He called her home. Glorious!
By the sound in their voice you know the state of their heart, moms was broken, sad…she called to tell me the news and my first reaction was one of sadness for my mom. I have a cousin like my moms, the thought of her body ceasing to exist and function in this world breaks my heart. I like her, I lover her, I enjoy being with her. To loose that loved one, even unto the glory of the Lords presence is heartbreaking. But mom knows the end of the story. She knows the Glory of where death leads. She also knows the sting for those of us left behind.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted Matthew 5:4
Comfort is present for those that mourn.
It is interesting because with each chronic diagnosis I hear about, with each death that has called a loved one home, I become more and more sensitive to the passing of time and the precious commodity that it is. “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”Acts 17:26 We are each given a time and yet we live like each tomorrow will come, just like it always has. Someday your tomorrow won’t come, will you be content with what you did with your today?
Death and imminent death make me think about the passing of time and what I do with it but it also reminds me that there is a life, there is THE LIFE, that is to come. This life seems like the end all of real life but I tell you this is not the end. The beginning is yet to come. The beginning came for my dear mothers cousin and the beginning is coming for you.
2 Peter 3:11-13 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
It is through Christ righteousness that you can have right standing before God and are welcomed into His kingdom. Don’t fret so much about living this life ‘right’, focus on living this life for and with God. Do God’s things, look through God’s eyes, let Jesus be The Lord of your life and your glorious day will come.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelations 2:14
When my body stops working on this earth and I “Die” be assured that I am truly, finally living. I just said this the other day to my husband and co-worker. Death is my celebration. I know my ‘person’ will be missed and my hugs will not be present anymore and my smile will only be found in pictures here on this earth but do not mourn my passing, celebrate what you can of my life but mostly celebrate the reality of where I stand now. In the presence of the almighty. Singing:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME!
To all those who have gone before me, grandpa and grandma(both of them), dear friends, dear family…I rejoice with you, Jesus conquered death so that we shall be together again. I celebrate your win into eternal life and although I miss you, my weeping may last through the night but JOY comes in the morning.
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