Issue 799 – RIP – July 15, 2022
We are back. I travelled back to the Edmonton area to do the celebration of the life of an old friend from high school, Lorne. I was honoured and privileged to be asked.
Lorne and I were typical, somewhat rebellious teens growing up in a small town. Neither of us had any use for faith, yet somehow in His infinite grace, the Lord called us to salvation later. I rejoice and thank God that there will come a time when these old friends are reunited in the presence of our King.
Like any celebration of life, there were plenty of reunions happening. I saw people I had not seen in more than 45 years. Some I knew on the spot, others I didn’t even recognize.
Relationships were restored, and lives caught up on. That is one of the blessings of this type of event, although it is always sad that it typically takes a death for that to happen.
There were many people there that I did not know. Still, others I did not know, but had some connection with, revealed themselves in conversation.
Some of the gathered crowd were Christian, and I will see again in glory if nowhere else. Some had known the truth but were in rebellion. Time will tell if their initial faith was genuine. Others had no interest in the truth; only time will tell for them. As long as someone draws breath, we can hold on to the hope that they are among the elect. We know that is true from the passion account.
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43
No one could have imagined the one criminal ever being redeemed. Yet, God knew. He has shown such grace to many through the centuries and can do it still. I know of many death bed conversions. That hope remains.
Christians both rejoice and mourn at the passing of fellow believers. There is the joy of knowing that they have graduated to glory, but it is mixed with the sorrow of not having them in this life any longer. We have no fear of death because we have the promise of everlasting life with Christ.
I can only imagine the rejoicing that will happen at the final reunion for believers. First and foremost, Jesus will be there. He is the one I most want to see.
Then there will be family and friends we have known well, acquaintances, people we have a distant connection with, and people from all nations and times for us to meet. The celebration will be beyond imagining.
There will be no sin, sorrow or shame to hinder our celebration. We will be all that the Lord created us to be.
We will have put away our earthly bodies and put on our eternal form.
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
That is a reunion I really look forward to. How about you?
Requiesce in pace (Rest in peace), my friend. Enjoy your time with the King. We will be along in the blink of an eternal eye.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
_____________________________
All contents are © 2001, 2022 K. F. “Kevin” Corbin and Gleanings From The Word.
Check us out on the web at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Never miss an issue. Subscribe to our email version today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
____________________________
#devotional #biblestudy #dailybible #bible #love #joy #gleanings #KevinCorbin #jesus #god #faith #christian #Christ #Father #bibleverses #prayer #church #forgiveness #Holyspirit #pray #jesuschrist #worship #Biblereading #believe #dailybiblereading #dailybible #devotional #discipleship #scripture #gospel #hope #truth #worship
#funeral #celebration #RIP #reunion