Daily Light from the Lighthouse
"We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be
absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."
2 Corinthians 5:8
We have all experienced that day that is dreaded above all. The fear of the unknown and the chill of the mysterious have rippled up and down our spines. We have stood with those dearest to us, strongly embraced them, and even felt their tears fall on us as we watched someone so precious to us take their last breath. It is a moment of grief that is rivaled by nothing else in this world.
At that same moment, however, the sweet soul of that loved one that knows Christ as their Lord and God is being raptured into the presence of their Maker. As we cling tightly to their hands, they are being released into the joy of the Lord. That mystery of the Almighty which this human mind searches to understand is now made clear for them. The smile that we would long to see just one more time is brighter and fuller than it has ever been before. Every happiness that they have enjoyed on this earth seems as sorrow compared to the joyful state in which they now find themselves. They outwardly gasp at the glory that is being revealed when God Himself welcomes them into His presence for not only the first time but forever!
We stand however in a much different state. We are left with the remnants of humanity, a lifeless body. As believers it is right and good to grieve. We do not grieve for the one who has passed, but we groan within ourselves for the loss and the hopeless feelings of a fallen world. We would love to feel the warmth of their embrace just one more time, but they would love for us to feel the embrace of our Savior. We would give almost any thing to see them smile again, but they can't wait until we see the smile of Jesus for ourselves. We desperately want answers that no man has; they have seen the Answer to every question worth asking.
Let us always remember that our grief and weeping may endure for the night, but joy surely comes in the morning!
May you know the joy of Christ for eternity!
In memory of my friend: Everett Biggs (October 9, 1930 - May 17, 2011)
1 comment:
I am so glad he knew Jesus. It is wonderful to know he is seeing Jesus right now.
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