Last week my Grandfather-in-law went home to be with the Lord. He was 95 years old and he was a very strong Christian. While his death was not unexpected it is still a loss for those of us who knew and loved him.
I have a few memories of Papaw that I will always cherish, like the time (when he was well into his 70's) that he and my father-in-law challenged my brother-in-law and me to a game of 2-on-2 in the back yard. He just stood back about 30 feet from the basket and waited for the ball to be passed to him, and every time it was he hit the basket. I don't think he missed a single three pointer that day (and I don't think I have played basketball since). That was the day that I learned that you don't have to be a young man to win a game of basketball (and that you are as young as you feel).
One of my other memories of him will always be of sitting in his living room discussing theology while a baseball game quietly played on the TV in the background. You see, there were four things that he loved (in this order): Jesus, his family, baseball, and cherry pie (some day maybe I'll write about Papaw and the biggest piece of cherry pie I ever saw).
I have a lot of respect for the way that he lived his life, and I pray that I will be able to live out the remainder of my Christian life the way he lived out his; he ran the race, he kept the faith, he finished the course, and last Tuesday he looked his Savior in the face as he heard Him say, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."
He is home now, and as we were dealing with the loss of Papaw last week I opened my email and saw this and couldn't help but think about how appropriate it was for what we were dealing with and as I read though it several time I actually became jealous and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day when I too will get to see my Savior face to face.
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I have a few memories of Papaw that I will always cherish, like the time (when he was well into his 70's) that he and my father-in-law challenged my brother-in-law and me to a game of 2-on-2 in the back yard. He just stood back about 30 feet from the basket and waited for the ball to be passed to him, and every time it was he hit the basket. I don't think he missed a single three pointer that day (and I don't think I have played basketball since). That was the day that I learned that you don't have to be a young man to win a game of basketball (and that you are as young as you feel).
One of my other memories of him will always be of sitting in his living room discussing theology while a baseball game quietly played on the TV in the background. You see, there were four things that he loved (in this order): Jesus, his family, baseball, and cherry pie (some day maybe I'll write about Papaw and the biggest piece of cherry pie I ever saw).
I have a lot of respect for the way that he lived his life, and I pray that I will be able to live out the remainder of my Christian life the way he lived out his; he ran the race, he kept the faith, he finished the course, and last Tuesday he looked his Savior in the face as he heard Him say, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."
He is home now, and as we were dealing with the loss of Papaw last week I opened my email and saw this and couldn't help but think about how appropriate it was for what we were dealing with and as I read though it several time I actually became jealous and I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day when I too will get to see my Savior face to face.
Take a few minutes today and thank God for the people that He has placed in your life, tell them that you love them, and remember that Isaiah 65:19 (quoted above) applies to you too if you are in Christ."The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more!"The glorified weep no more--because all causes of grief are gone! There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander--are unknown there. No pain distresses, and no thought of death or bereavement saddens.Isaiah 65:19
They weep no more--because they are perfectly sanctified! No "evil heart of unbelief" prompts them to depart from the living God. They are without fault before His throne, and are fully conformed to His image! Well may they cease to mourn--who have ceased to sin!
They weep no more--because all fear of change is past! They know that they are eternally secure! Sin is shut out--and they are shut in!Countless cycles may revolve--but eternity shall not be exhausted; and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are forever with the Lord!
- They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed!
- They bask in a sun which shall never set!
- They drink of a river which shall never run dry!
- They pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither!
They weep no more--because every desire is fulfilled! They cannot wish for anything--which they don't already have in full possession.
Eye and ear, heart and hand, mind and imagination, desire and affection--all the faculties, are completely satisfied!
As imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God has prepared for those who love Him--yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the glorified saints are supremely blessed. The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fullness of delight--is in them. They bathe forever in the bottomless, shoreless sea of infinite blessedness!
That same joyful rest remains for us! It may not be far distant. Before long--the weeping willow shall be exchanged for the palm-branch of victory! Sorrow's dewdrops will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss!
"The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more!"
"Therefore comfort one another with these words."Charles Spurgeon
1 comment:
I am sorry for your loss, and I think about the call to Christians to share the Good News that you described in your article: death is not the end! Florida will soon be voting on whether to allow Christians to have custom license plates with either a cross or the image of Jesus:
http://www.examiner.com/x-7312-Miami-Interfaith-Spirituality-Examiner~y2009m4d25-Religious-license-plates-with-Jesus-Christ-or-cross-soon-a-Florida-reality
Do you think this would help spread the Word or only fuel division?
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