“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
Back in the day, most family reunions were either at a wedding or a funeral. When my mom’s side had their reunions at the stone building in the Seward City Park down by the swimming pool, there were people there that appeared to have just arrived from the old country. I don’t recall how far away they lived from us; they were strangers to me. We didn’t have any nametags so I had to ask and was prepared to tell them who I belonged to if things were okay and if I had made a mess, point to my Aunt Mildred.
And then, not quite that far back in the day, when I taught Sunday School and Confirmation to the youth at Christ in Lincoln, there were different opinions about Heaven and reuniting with people from farther back…in the day. When I was a kid, at St. John’s in Seward, I didn’t really think about heaven that much. First, it seemed so boring; at least the way the world described it. Second, it seemed like a long way off. And third, the only person that I really knew who was there was my dad. But I know a lot of people who are in heaven now; sixty years later. And, as I’ve mentioned a few times, I can’t wait to get there and be with them.
In heaven, we’re going to be reunited with our loved ones who love the Lord and Haitian school children like the three in the attached photo. Those who are in the family of God are all going to be there.
Who would you like to talk to first in heaven? I doubt there will be the stick on nametags; you will know each of them. Of course, you’re going to meet and worship the Lord first. But who are you excited to see next? Every believer throughout history will be there. Would you like to talk to Moses? How about Abraham or Mary or Paul? We will have ‘forever’ to meet people from throughout Christian history and scientists and world leaders and people from every tribe and nation. And these three Haitian girls.
One big family reunion. Can you imagine how emotional, how joyful that’s going to be? My father, mother and sister are in heaven. There are a few still born grandchildren in heaven…waiting. The more of my family and friends who are on that side of death, the dearer heaven becomes to me.
Are you encouraged by the thought of being in the presence of Jesus and reunited with your friends and family? When we are grieving with someone, we should share that encouragement with them. If they and their loved one know Jesus as their Savior, then death is not the end. They will see them again!
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay