As time marches (trudges) on, and I approach old age,
I am blessed by the "three score years and ten" that I have
already attained.
LIFE IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD!
But the Christian must face the reality and the prospect of
leaving this life and "transferring" to the next life. I often
refer to my previous wife, Jayne's passing, as she
"having graduated to Glory".
DEATH is a foreboding and forbidding word. It signifies
for many the END of things. But it is not the end, rather
the BEGINNING for the person of faith, the one who
has put her or his trust in Jesus Christ, the purveyor of
God, the Father's, plan of SALVATION!
Actually, for we who "are His", passing on to the next
level, or to the life beyond, (or entering eternal life) is to
be welcomed and desired, not feared or shunned.
In the "Shepherd's Psalm", we are admonished that
"though (we) walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, (we) will fear no evil (bad thing)." Psalm 23 in
the Old Testament of the Bible.
A Christian friend of mine has been heard often lately
saying things like, "My bags are packed, I'm ready to go."
Her reference here is to the end of time, what with all
of the turmoil that we hear, see, and read about daily in
the media. It does have a tendency to "wear on one's
spirit", this constant negativity that life sometimes brings.
ARE YOU READY TO GO? WILL DYING BE A
BLESSING OR CURSE FOR YOU?
For the believer, as "the Resurrection chapter" (I Corin-
thians, chapter 15), rhetorically speaking, "death, where
is your sting, grave where is your victory?" Death, or
passing on into eternity and Heaven, does not hurt! The
grave is not the end! As Jesus could not be bound by
the placing of His body in the tomb, neither will we be
bound to rot and be destroyed by death or burial!!
Did I hear an "Amen"? Oh, a chorus of "Amens"!!
To be sure, each day has its contingent of blessings and
joys, but the spirit tires of life and its vicissitudes and
trials, but "Joy comes in the morning!" as one writer
declares! Another stated, "There will be PEACE in
the valley"!
Accept life as it's given to you, and count your many
blessings, to be sure, but do not struggle when this
time on earth is through - THERE ARE BETTER
TIMES AHEAD - in the Kingdom of God and in the
fullness of His eternal presence and blessings!
One of the dearest times of my life, and of my years
in the ministry, was being in the room with Dorothy
Graf and her husband, Henry, when she was 'going
home'. She had such a peaceful countenance and
approach about her, and that has resonated in my
spirit and memory ever since. As the Scriptures
say, "How beautiful in the sight of the Lord is the
(homecoming) death of His saints."
Ready? I am.
I am blessed by the "three score years and ten" that I have
already attained.
LIFE IS FULL OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD!
But the Christian must face the reality and the prospect of
leaving this life and "transferring" to the next life. I often
refer to my previous wife, Jayne's passing, as she
"having graduated to Glory".
DEATH is a foreboding and forbidding word. It signifies
for many the END of things. But it is not the end, rather
the BEGINNING for the person of faith, the one who
has put her or his trust in Jesus Christ, the purveyor of
God, the Father's, plan of SALVATION!
Actually, for we who "are His", passing on to the next
level, or to the life beyond, (or entering eternal life) is to
be welcomed and desired, not feared or shunned.
In the "Shepherd's Psalm", we are admonished that
"though (we) walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, (we) will fear no evil (bad thing)." Psalm 23 in
the Old Testament of the Bible.
A Christian friend of mine has been heard often lately
saying things like, "My bags are packed, I'm ready to go."
Her reference here is to the end of time, what with all
of the turmoil that we hear, see, and read about daily in
the media. It does have a tendency to "wear on one's
spirit", this constant negativity that life sometimes brings.
ARE YOU READY TO GO? WILL DYING BE A
BLESSING OR CURSE FOR YOU?
For the believer, as "the Resurrection chapter" (I Corin-
thians, chapter 15), rhetorically speaking, "death, where
is your sting, grave where is your victory?" Death, or
passing on into eternity and Heaven, does not hurt! The
grave is not the end! As Jesus could not be bound by
the placing of His body in the tomb, neither will we be
bound to rot and be destroyed by death or burial!!
Did I hear an "Amen"? Oh, a chorus of "Amens"!!
To be sure, each day has its contingent of blessings and
joys, but the spirit tires of life and its vicissitudes and
trials, but "Joy comes in the morning!" as one writer
declares! Another stated, "There will be PEACE in
the valley"!
Accept life as it's given to you, and count your many
blessings, to be sure, but do not struggle when this
time on earth is through - THERE ARE BETTER
TIMES AHEAD - in the Kingdom of God and in the
fullness of His eternal presence and blessings!
One of the dearest times of my life, and of my years
in the ministry, was being in the room with Dorothy
Graf and her husband, Henry, when she was 'going
home'. She had such a peaceful countenance and
approach about her, and that has resonated in my
spirit and memory ever since. As the Scriptures
say, "How beautiful in the sight of the Lord is the
(homecoming) death of His saints."
Ready? I am.
