Tag: Eternity

New Things

Posted on by scott

18 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! – Isaiah 43:18-19a

Letters

Sometimes it is not so easy to forget the former things. In fact, it often seems downright impossible not to dwell on the past. Can we really push past memories into a vault and seal them in? Our pasts are filled with so many highs and lows that not only trigger emotional responses, but at a deeper level they greatly shape our character. How can they not?

A few weeks ago, our family experienced one of those dramatic life experiences that has dominated our thoughts and emotions. The loss of a loved one certainly has a way of dominating every aspect of your life for a season. Accordingly, the loss of baby Isaiah is something that we will think about and dwell on for a long time to come. In fact, we will never forget him.

For many of us, our memories will include the letters that Isaiah’s parents Daniel and Rebekah wrote to their beloved son. Letters that were shared at his graveside service. As I have contemplated these letters, I have wondered how a letter from Isaiah might read. Perhaps it might read something like this.

Mommy and Daddy,

Thank you for your love. Every moment of my awareness I felt it. From inside the womb I heard it spoken. The excitement in your voices when you first learned I was here was unmistakable. Every child wants to be wanted. Every child needs to be loved. Even before you could “feel” me, I could feel your love. I am sure it was contagious. Selfless love always is.

Thank you mommy for carrying me. You and daddy know that I am a gift from God. Wonderfully knit by Him in your womb, and ordained before the foundation of the world. I never was a mass of tissue. Nor could I ever be confused for anything as selfish as merely a “choice”. I will forever be your firstborn. Uniquely fashioned with the DNA of mommy and daddy. But more importantly, I was created in the image of My Heavenly Father.

Mommy, I know you miss feeling my kicks. Daddy, I know you miss feeling them as well, although they were less of an “inconvenience” to you. Even though it only lasted thirty-six weeks, what a special bonding time we had. You took me a lot of places, and “fed” me a lot of good foods. More importantly, you shared your excitement for me with so many family members and friends. There was no mistaking the thrill of expectation as I heard your conversations. Thank you for the experiences we shared together.

Thank you daddy for praying for me. As my protector, there is nothing more important you could have done for me than to pray for me. The fervency of your prayers was just another reminder of the depth of your love for me. I am proud to call you daddy.

Thank you also for providing for me. I know how hard each of you works to make sure the house is a home. Your preparations did not go unnoticed. I especially love the nursery. It is laid out so nice. The room is so “warm” and inviting with so much attention to detail. It is a beautiful reflection of my awesome parents. I have a lot of fond memories of the time mommy and I spent in there.

Mommy, you not only carried me well, but you delivered me well. You said that God had given you a task to complete. Thank you for obeying Him. I know how difficult it was to go through the long hours of pain, knowing that your effort would not be rewarded by my cry. But because of your love for me and the family, and most importantly your love for your Father, you endured the trial. In doing so you blessed me with the privilege of meeting a number of people I would not have otherwise been introduced to.

Once again, love ruled the day. Thank you.

Mommy and daddy, although things did not go the way you hoped, dreamed, or even planned, you showed everyone your true character. You loved on me and showed me off in a way every child dreams of. Your embraces and kisses spoke volumes of the loving people that you are. I can’t put into words how good it felt to be held by each of you.

Unfortunately, the time came when you had to let me go. So it always is with those we love. A last embrace is always so difficult. We always wish for one more moment. But our time together on this earth was never meant to last forever.

When you let me go, you also said goodbye to so many hopes and dreams. Just like me, I know they are hard to let go of. All too often, our hopes and dreams exceed reality.

I will never sleep in the new nursery. Nor will I will ever hold the stuffed giraffe. Daddy will never play me the children’s records he bought, nor will I ever hear you read the books you stocked my “library” with. I will never swing in the backyard or play with my cousins. There are so many “new” things you wanted to share with me and forgetting them seems impossible.

But heed the advice of my namesake:

18 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing! – Isaiah 43:18-19a

Mommy and daddy, just as death has been swallowed up in victory, the pain of our past is put into perspective by the promises of our Father. Promises not just for the future, but for the present. Promises sealed with a cruel cross and an empty tomb.

Keeping our eyes on God enables us to see things from an eternal perspective, which is what we always need to do. Especially when we are weighed down by the memories of past pains and trials, and saddened by buried dreams. Just as every earthly joy will be tempered with a memory of me, I hope that every earthly sorrow will be buoyed by eternal hope.

Here in heaven, everything is new, and always will be. There are no moths, nor is there any rust. Likewise, there is no threat of thieves to steal (Matthew 6:19). The streets of gold will never lose their luster and the foundation of precious stones will never accumulate dust. I will never shed a tear of sorrow, or be in want of food or water. Far from it.

The first sight my eyes beheld was the face of Jesus, and His scarred hands were the first to hold me. I am experiencing perfect love in a perfect home. A place prepared especially for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to experience it.

Perhaps some day my siblings will use the nursery. In time the stuffed animals will become old and soiled. The swing set will eventually wear out. Likewise, the records and the books will succumb to age and wear. Such is the fate of the things of earth. They can only last so long because of the presence of sin. Not so in Heaven.

I can’t wait until you join me here. When you do I am going to return the favor you bestowed upon me. I am going to love on you and show you off just as every child dreams of. Only here, we will never be separated again. In Heaven, reality exceeds our best hopes and dreams.

Until then, just remember that I love you with a love beyond your comprehension. A love untainted by sin. A love more like the love of Jesus that you introduced me to as best as you could with the time we had.

With eternal love,

Isaiah

P.S. Jesus wanted me to share these reminders with you.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. – Colossians 3:2

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5

Summer is Ended

Posted on by scott

20 “The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
    and we are not saved.” – Jeremiah 8:20

Dirt

Today I was buried.  It is a day I was destined for since I took my first breath but never really thought of as something imminent.  Who wants to go through life thinking about death?

But here I lay.

It is an eerie thing to hear dirt being thrown on your own casket.  But I can hear it.  From the confines of my casket, it is muffled, but I can hear it none the less.  One tender handful at a time the dirt makes its six-foot drop, symbolic of the origin and destiny of every man.

As the dirt bounces off the casket I know my family and friends will disperse and the machinery will come in to finish filling in my grave.  Perhaps I will feel the earth shake as the backhoe finishes this somber task.  Seems like such an impersonal way to lay a person to rest.  But filling in a grave one handful at a time isn’t efficient.

My how I will miss holding those precious hands of my loved ones that are now committing my body back to the earth.  Perhaps they will drop a few flowers to adorn my casket before they leave.  I always had a preference for carnations but a few roses would suffice.

Light

Once my vault is enclosed and my grave is filled it will be time for me to “move on”.  Such was the agreement I made with the light that spoke to me before I took my last earthly breath.

It was such a comforting and understanding light that reassured me as my earthly life was closing.  God knows I needed it.

Knowing my fears, the light promised me I could retain my earthly awareness until my body was laid to rest and my grave completed.  After that, I was promised bliss.

Once I greedily accepted the few extra days I had to laugh at myself.  After all, while I had good health and so much to live for how many days had I foolishly “wasted”?  Oh well, I can’t relive the past, but what I have heard the past three days makes me wish for a do-over.

Voices

As my family was gathered around me for my “passing”, I was moved by the many kind words.  Not only were the words pleasant to my ears, but I was surprised by the humility and openness with which they were expressed.

Tears flowed with no shame.  Hugs were plentiful.  My family made sure that there was always someone on “duty” to hold my hands.  Love was shown with no reservation.

What it is about human pride, I had to wonder, that too often prevents us from expressing our love for others.  Seems ironic to me that too often we don’t truly show how much we love someone until they are unable to hear us or reciprocate our love.

I went through life not knowing the depth to which I was truly loved.  Why didn’t they say these kind words and shower me with such affections while I was alive and coherent?

Probably for the same reason I didn’t do so with them.

Pride is a powerful enemy.  If we were really granted a do-over would we be any better in our battle against it?  At least the light gave me the assurance that I would see my loved ones again in the afterlife.  Certainly, there we will do better at expressing our love!

Refuge

Well, the grave is filling up.  I can definitely “feel” the backhoe doing its job.  Soon I will be rewarded for my good works.  Rightly so.  I made a lot of sacrifices to live a good life.

Once I enter into eternal bliss I won’t regret all the good times and pleasures I had to forego to please God.  But some of my friends might be in for a surprise.  Some people sure do live with no restraint!!

There is no doubt that when God looks at my life He will be impressed with how much my good outweighed my bad.  Unquestionably, I have been a lot better of a person than many I know.  Some people say that is irrelevant, but the light assured me it was important to God.  And nobody ever spoke to me with the confidence that the light did.

Now I can say I am thankful I was raised a moral, or perhaps I could go so far as to say a religious person.  I make no claims of being perfect, but certainly, I am confident I am good enough to be accepted by a loving God.

Summer

Finally, I see the light approaching me again.  Good thing, I’m starting to get a little cold.  It is not quite as warm down here as it was under the lights in the funeral home.

As the light gets brighter I see my past.  All at once and in no specific order I have flashbacks of people I’ve known, places I’ve been, experiences shared and memories made.

Grandparents, Easter, beaches, pets, parents, Thanksgiving, lakes, graduations, siblings, Christmas, toys, children, waterfalls, weddings, grandchildren, New Years, campfires, friends, reunions, trees…

The rapidity of the scenes is overwhelming.  I feel like I’m buried with a strobe light.

Instantly it stops.

A cold wind is blowing.  All the leaves have fallen.  Another summer is ended.

It will be my last.

Unsaved

The dirt has been turned over.  Seeds have been sown.  The rains have germinated the seeds.  Now the harvest is past.

As I travel with the light, I begin to feel intense heat.  I wanted a little warmth but this is becoming more than I can bear.

As the heat increases the light begins to take on a different appearance and his reassuring voice becomes unnerving.  Never before have I seen anything so grotesque or heard a voice so grating.

Why the fire?  I didn’t expect to feel such pain!  Where are all of my loved ones?  How can there be such an intense fire and yet complete darkness?  Why are my memories accusing me and my mind tormenting me?  How long must I endure this?  This isn’t what the light promised me!

Is it possible I have been deceived and will have to suffer eternally for it?  I would have rather remained in the grave than be cast into hell.

If only I could go back and warn my loved ones.  Pointing them to a saving faith in Christ, the True Light, is the most loving thing a person can do.

Knowing what I know now, how can I make sure they are saved before the harvest is past and the summer is ended?

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15