The End is NOT the End
…..at least for those of us who believe in the hereafter – so much so, that we have no fear because a “See ‘ya later!” here is literally…..just a few short days, months or years and we will meet our loved ones face-to-face. And even better than that…..we will meet our Lord face-to-face!
I think that’s why my beloved mother-in-law yearns for her departure to the “sweet by and by, where we’ll meet on that beautiful shore”!! We are closing in on her 100th birthday! October 31st is just 47 days away. Those of us who don’t have the responsibility for her 24/7 daily care, deep down inside, hope she makes 100 on this side of heaven. But that’s a self-absorbed desire – especially when Mom so wants to take her trip “on the good old Gospel ship where she’ll be leaving for glory soon.”
AND we’re not the ones who are so weary from the toll her 24/7 care has been on them. I’ll be going to give my sis-in-law and her husband, George, some respite in a couple of weeks.
My husband “died” of cancer in 2010. Some might say, “He lost his battle with cancer.” Actually the cancer died, and he is more alive today than he was then.
We often say that someone “passed away.” Actually the world passes away. And we are with our Father, and with “a great multitude that no one could number” forever. (Revelation 7:9).
I like how Dr. Jim Denison explained this. He said regarding King Charles III’s ascension to the throne last Thursday: “In the moment of his mother’s death, he became king. Nothing changed externally. He had the same appearance, same height, weight and the same personal characteristics that were his the day before. But in that moment, his status changed. He will be known forever as the king he was born to be.
In the same way, the moment we trusted Christ as Lord, we were born into His royal family (1 Peter 2:9). Now we serve Him faithfully and fearlessly, knowing that the worst that can happen to us leads to the best that can happen to us.
We can use our momentary days for eternal significance and live for God’s glory rather than our own, secure in the knowledge that we will share His glory when we worship at His throne.
I spoke about that throne to my daughter on her FB page when she was expressing her love and devotion to her daddy on his birthday. “……..I know he is so proud of you and I know just because we don’t see him in the flesh, he is right in the throne room cheering you on and praying unceasingly for you.”
I mentioned in my blog on his birthday, that he doesn’t carry the “royal” titles given to a monarchy, but, I know this, in his faithfulness to his King, he will receive “the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). And so will you and I.
So, in the meantime and UNTIL THEN…..
“My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a trail that’s winding always upward,
This troubled world is not my final home.
Chorus
So, until then my heart will go on singing,
Until then with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day my eyes behold the city,
Until the day God calls me home.”
P.S. Lots of references to “heaven” via the lyrics “clips” throughout this blog today. “Heaven” was written into many old Gospel songs. I remember them and I’m renewing them in my mind — the closer I get to my “home-sweet-home”!