Tag: Heaven

Safe and Sound

Posted on by scott

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared – 1 John 3:2a

Someone’s Missing

Today we are celebrating Brooke’s ninth birthday.  It is a bittersweet day.  To say the least.  We are gathering as a family to celebrate our youngest child’s birthday, without her presence.  The absence of her physical presence has precipitated a litany of questions.

If our preemie baby had lived to come home from the hospital, what would she be like as a little nine-year-old girl?  Who would she look like?  What personality traits would she have?  How would she interact with her siblings, nephews, and nieces?  What limitations might she have had as a result of being hooked up to a respirator for her entire brief life?

I think for anyone who has lost a child these types of questions are inevitable.  With each passing birthday and holiday, we can’t help but wonder how our lives would differ with Brooke in the equation.  But wonder is all we can do.  As we journey down this road called life we continue to pass milestones without our “baby” to share the experiences.

Lofty Mysteries

As we think about our departed daughter, we find that our questions are not limited to just the here and now.  We also have questions that transcend the temporal.  As intriguing as is it to ponder what Brooke might look and be like if she were still with us, we also question her current “status” in heaven.

As I was talking to my co-worker (Tammy) yesterday about celebrating Brooke’s birthday, she mentioned the three children that are awaiting her in heaven.  Children that she would dearly have loved to hold and nurture as a mother but was denied the privilege because of miscarriages.

Tammy has total confidence that her children await her in heaven, but in what state?  How “old” will they appear?  What type of bodies will they have?  How will she recognize her children she never held?

These are questions we will have to wait to have answered until we join our loved ones in heaven.  All we know is that our earthly bodies are merely seeds that are sown in dishonor but will be raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43).  Our natural bodies will give way to a spiritual one.

Now and Later

Brooke may not be with us, but I would rather celebrate her birthday without her than to ignore it.  She is still a special part of our family.  Although we all grieve her absence, we also anticipate the day we will be reunited with her in heaven.

I believe it is a healthy thing not to live in denial.  We have all lost loved ones that we will never see again on this side of eternity.  While I recognize that others don’t want to continually hear about our losses or our struggles, pretending they don’t exist or never happened doesn’t help anyone.

Paul not only writes that our earthly bodies are “sown in dishonor”, but he also tells us that they are “sown in weakness” (1 Cor. 15:43b).  These jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7) that we live in for a short period of time are so fragile.  But Paul encourages us that our weak bodies will be raised in power.  However, before our weak bodies are raised in power, we need all the encouragement we can get.

There can be a lot of difficult days before our earthly seeds are “raised in glory”, which makes me so thankful for the mercy God shines on us before He takes us home.

Safe and Sound

After sharing supper as a family tonight, we shared some memories of Brooke’s passing.  It isn’t often we discuss these memories but we do cherish them almost as if they were sacred.  It is always sobering thinking about our loved ones crossing over the river of death into eternity.

After our discussion, I sat down in the rocking chair.  As I was contemplating Brooke’s brief life, my four-year-old grand-daughter climbed onto my lap and rocked with me.  It was definitely one of those moments of mercy God shines on us to encourage us in our weakness.

As I rocked my grand-daughter I was reminded of the song my daughters were so anxiously looking forward to playing for their little sister when she came home from the hospital.  But never would.  For a long time after Brooke’s passing, I could not listen to the song.  The pain was too deep.  But what a comfort it is to know that the love and safety we wanted to provide for her in our humble home could never compare to heaven.

Sorry, Tammy.  I don’t know what our babies will look like in heaven, but I do know they are safe and sound.  And I also know that until our earthly seeds are raised in glory and we can join them, God will be faithful in shining His mercies on us.

Until we are in glory, enjoy every opportunity you get of rocking that child.  It is a blessing we earthly seeds should never take for granted.

The Song

Safe and Sound
Matthew West
Can’t believe you’re here now
Tiny dream come true
The answer to a prayer now
I’m so in love with you
Couldn’t wait to meet you
Hope you like your name
I get the funny feeling
Life will never be the same
Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
Like I hoped you’d be
Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
And that’s all I’ll ever need
The world’s a scary place here
But baby it’s alright
I’ll make sure the coast is clear
So you can just sleep tight
But if you’re afraid of monsters
Like everybody is
I’ll be right beside you
Closer than a kiss
Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And you will always be
Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And that’s all you’ll ever need
Someday I’m gonna teach you
The reason why we pray
So that heaven’s love may reach you
Every single day
So, baby close your eyes now
And say a prayer with me
Lord, I lay me down to sleep now
But I know I will be
Safe and sound
You’re here with us now
And we will always be
Safe and sound You’re here with us now
And that’s all we’ll ever, all we’ll ever need
You’re all we’ll ever need

 

Heaven’s Table

Posted on by scott

8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

Why Worry?

Amazing the ideas that come to our minds when we think of Hell.  When I was a freshman in High School there was this “joke” on the wall in the art room that was placed there by one of the students.  Unfortunately, it very well summarizes the philosophy of too many.  It was simply entitled, “Why Worry”.

Why Worry

There are only two things to worry about:
Either you are well or you are sick.

If you are well, then there is nothing to worry about.

But if you are sick, then there are only two things to worry about:
Either you will get well or you will die.

If you get well, there is nothing to worry about.
But if you die, then there are only two things to worry about:
Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven, there is nothing to worry about.

But if you go to hell,
You’ll be so darn busy shaking hands with friends
You won’t have time to worry!

So why worry?

The world may consider this to be a clever joke, but it is no laughing matter.  We have no right to make light of something the Bible takes so seriously.  Sadly, as evidenced by this twisted philosophy, many people mock what the Bible records about Hell.  People like Ted Turner have gone on record as saying they cannot wait to die and go to Hell.  To people like him Hell will be one big party.  Unfortunately their idea of Hell must come from Satan, the father of lies, because the Bible never paints such a portrait of Hell.

Roll Call

When John has his vision of Heaven as recorded in the Book of Revelation, he records the above words about the lake of fire and the second death spoken by Him who is seated on the throne.  Argument could be made that either this is God the Father or Jesus, regardless, the speaker has more authority on the subject of Hell than anyone else.  Certainly, what He has to say doesn’t line up with the philosophy of the author of “Why Worry” or the likes of Ted Turner.

According to Revelation, Hell will be populated with the likes of the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars.  While I don’t believe this list was by any means meant to be exhaustive, it does give us a “flavor” of what the population of Hell will be like.  Certainly not people I would longingly anticipate shaking hands with and spending eternity with.  Nor would I want to party with these people if I was the partying type.  But I am not Ted Turner.

Jesus had strong words for the cowardly.  Those that denied Him before men He would in turn deny before the Father (Matt. 10:33).  The fate of the faithless was no better as Jesus warned in John 8:24.  Who wants to die in their sins?  Similarly, we could quote Bible verses about the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, etc.   But the simple question is this:  if these people will forever be banned from the presence of God why would we think we would want to spend eternity with them?

Heaven’s Table

11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven – Matt. 8:11

When Jesus wanted to correct the Sadducees regarding the resurrection, which they did not believe in, He quoted Exodus chapter three verse six in which God tells Moses that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Since God is not the God of the dead but of the living, these Patriarchs, although physically deceased, must still be alive.  What a hope for the troubled Jews to know that someday they could fellowship at Heaven’s table with such “giants”.

But how about you?  We can cringe at the “worlds” mockery of Hell and the afterlife, but how real are the promises of Heaven to you?  Set aside the streets of gold and the beauty of Heaven for a moment.  Are you looking forward to the companionship that we as believers will have there?

In addition to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we will be reclining with Moses, Daniel and Paul.  If that doesn’t get you excited how about Spurgeon, Moody and Taylor?  Okay, so we have never met these people, so let’s get personal.  How about your grandparents?  Maybe your father or mother?  Perhaps you have a sibling or a child waiting at Heaven’s table for you to join them.  We have all buried loved ones that we want to see again.

I am not interested in Hell’s roll call.  I want nothing to do with sorcerers, idolaters, liars or any others that Christ deems unworthy to enter His kingdom.  Give me the “society” of Heaven where we will forever enjoy the purest fellowship of the Redeemed, and most importantly, the fellowship of the Redeemer.

With Christ

23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. – Philippians 1:23

The great Apostle Paul, as gifted as he was, and as vital as he was to the church, had no unhealthy attachments to the world.  As much as Paul found joy and fulfillment in serving Christ here on earth, it could not compare with being in His presence in Heaven.  Hence his verdict that to be with Christ is far better.

I am excited that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be reclining at Heaven’s table.  It intrigues me to think of meeting the giants of the faith that we have read and heard about for years.  Imagine meeting people like Rahab, Ruth and Mary Magdalene.  The testimonies of the power and grace of God would never get old.  Just think of listening to the woman at the well as recorded in John chapter four or the woman caught in adultery as recorded in John chapter eight.  What a thrill it would be to hear them talk about their encounters with Jesus.  Do you take for granted your encounter with Him?

Forgive me for repeating myself, but I cringe when I hear people say that Heaven has become a better place once their loved ones have passed from this life and entered Heaven’s fold.  Heaven is Heaven because it is the perfect home of the Trinity.  The fact that our loved ones are now reclining at Heaven’s table doesn’t make it any better, it just makes this world’s hold on us weaker.  Which is how it should be.

Don’t Worry

Perhaps, like Paul, you are feeling hard pressed.  The pressures you feel may not be the same ones that Paul was experiencing but they are crushing you nonetheless.  Hold onto the Truth, don’t give into the world’s philosophies.  God loves you with a perfect love.  He is all powerful and He is sovereign.  His promises are eternal.

Nothing will ever separate you from His love, and He will work out all things for your good.  In the final analysis there is really only one thing to worry about: dying in your sins and having your portion in the lake of fire which is the second death.

But, if you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, the abundant life is yours to experience and Heaven is your home.  There are many saints reclining there awaiting your arrival.  But most importantly, Jesus is there waiting for you with open arms.  His scars are His testimony that because of His love, ultimately His children have nothing to worry about.

Enjoy your time at the table.  It will never end.

27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. – Revelation 21:27