My friend’s mother passed away yesterday unexpectedly. The sadness I feel isn’t just for my friend and his family, but for me, too. This woman was my friend, and I shall miss her. Yet, moments after hearing the news, my thoughts were taken in a completely different direction.
I’ll be honest. At first, I thought about how she’s seeing things about the Lord she wouldn’t believe while here, things some of us already knew and tried to tell her. That arrogant train of thought was quickly destroyed when I realized she’s seeing it all so much more clearly than any of us ever will while on earth. She understands the limitations of the doctrines she believed, as well as the limitations of the “greater” doctrines we espouse – and sees what the fullness of Truth really is.
Where earthly things are concerned, she sees now how much time was wasted on things of no value, while being shown the eternal impact some of her seemingly insignificant actions had. I would love to get her perspective for my own life, even after only one heavenly day’s experience. As a faithful choir member for decades, what notes can she hear that mortal ears can never perceive? What amazing landscapes does she see now – with colors so crisp and vibrant, and far beyond our visible spectrum? Then there is also her over-the-top delight in reuniting with friends and loved ones as they celebrate her homecoming.
As wonderful as all these are, they pale in comparison to seeing the face of her Creator, her Father, her Savior and Lord, her Jesus! He is the One by Whom, for Whom, and through Whom she was made, and now my friend is experiencing Him in His fullness. Today, you and I can only wonder about it, but one day we will also see Him as He is.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NIV
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Goodbye, my friend. Thank you for helping me see more clearly – even from heaven. I look forward to seeing you among my welcoming committee when I arrive.
To Make Christ Known 