I was with some folks the other day and we were planning a funeral service for their mom who had passed away suddenly. We talked about how this service would be a celebration for this wonderful, talented and committed follower of Jesus. They are not happy at all that mom is no longer with us, but they are believing what the Bible says happens those who have chosen to receive the forgiveness of God through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We talked about her life, with her husband who has be gone from us for several years now and all that she brought to their lives and the lives of others. And by the time we ended our talking and planning, there was laughter and a lightness about our time. The son and daughters all agreed they will miss their mother terribly, but they know in their hearts and minds that the Bible says that as long as we live in these bodies, we are not at home with the Lord. And that when these bodies cease to function, we will then be home with the Lord. I come away from those times with a sense of sadness that I won’t get to share any more experiences with that person here on earth, but so comforted that they are home…home with the Lord. Followers of Jesus grieve when someone they love dies. But they don’t grieve like those who have no hope. The thing that we all know deep in our hearts is that we, and everyone around us will one day leave this planet…they will die. But we live confident in our trust in this God of the Bible that he keeps his promises and that death is not the end for any of us. It is just a matter of how and where we will continue our experience of life. Jesus said that he was the way, the truth and the life. And that no one could come to the Father except through him. I’m believing that. And when I do that service in a few days I just might shed some tears because I will miss this wonderful lady, but I will talk about the future we have with the Jesus we follow and the experience of life and that we will end up in a place we have never been…and yet for us it is now and forever will be…home. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
(1Thessalonians 4:13 NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
(1Thessalonians 4:13 NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ