Solace for the Soul

Thinking about a statement I read today:

Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds: joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and solace whenever it doesn't. 

Randy Alcorn in Truth, A Bigger View of God's Word

While Alcorn's statement wasn't in the context of our current Covid-19 circumstances, much of what I read these days I tend to relate to that; perhaps you do as well. As I was sitting on my back porch listening to the birds whistling to one another, watching the morning gild the sky, feeling the fanning of the cool air, I had a momentary sense of how the newly created earth must have been, and how it will some day be renewed. It brought joy to my heart and mind to think of it.

There are times, though, when we recognize that this earth is groaning in travail, awaiting the renewal that will be the New Earth. Covid-19 is a reminder that all is not well on Planet Earth. Nor has it been for thousands of years. Sickness and death surround us. Insecurity and fear creep into many houses. Anger gnaws at the soul because some fear they've lost control. They've never really had control of Planet Earth anyway. But some think they have, and loss of control is a difficult blow. And so they think someone must be to blame.

Yet, it is also times like these that can remind us of the next world. For we long for all to be right, for that cool morning sunshine and the sweet chirping of the birds to be steady, unbroken, uninterrupted. To waft through all of Creation. To know that all is well on New Planet Earth. And so it will be, for God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).

Such solace for the soul. We have the best of both worlds.

Image ~ A Quiet Read in the Shade, George Goodwin Kilburn, 1839-1924

public domain via WikiGallery

Prepared to Live

To be prepared to die is to be prepared to live. 

~ Charles Spurgeon

The last two weeks have been the last days on earth for my aunt as well as a dear friend from back home. Both have passed through the gates of death to their new homeland. We traveled to be with my uncle and family last weekend, and last evening we also learned of our friend Roger having passed from earthly life to heavenly life.

Both are now rejoicing as they've met their Savior face to face, yet there is much sadness in their absence for those who loved them here. They have groaned for the last time as death pangs dislodged them from this earth and conveyed them into their new heavenly existence. And so we grieve, but not as the world grieves, for we shall one day see them again.

I do hope you are prepared to die, dear one, for the day is surely coming as it does to us all.  If you're not sure about life after your earthly death, I've written here about what drew me to Jesus and eternal life with him. I whisper a prayer that he is drawing you to himself as well. I hope to see you in my heavenly home when I see him face to face.

“If I do not think of death, yet death will think of me.”
~ Spurgeon

Image via pixabay

Maybe You're Doing More Than You Realize

A friend recently gave me the book A Life God Rewards: Why Everything You Do Today Matters Forever by Bruce Wilkinson. It has truly given me more understanding of rewards when I will one day enter into eternal life with Jesus. It has enhanced my desire to serve Him more while I am still on earth, as I lay up more treasure in Heaven. And it has given me a broader perspective on why I do whatever I do today and tomorrow.

So thankful for friends who nudge me Homeward.

Sharing a brief excerpt with you today with some encouraging points.

Maybe you're doing more of eternal value than you realize. So what would a portrait of a life God rewards look like? 

We see a vivid picture of the life God rewards in the teachings of Jesus and in the rest of the New Testament. 

1.  God will reward you for seeking Him through spiritual acts such as fasting and praying (Matthew 6:6; Hebrews 11:6).

2.  God will reward you for submitting to your employer as a faithful steward (Matthew 24:45-47; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:22-24).

3.  God will reward you for self-denial in His service (Matthew 16:24-27).

4.  God will reward you for serving those in need in His name (Mark 9:41).

5.  God will reward you for suffering for His name and reputation (Luke 6:22-23).

6.  God will reward you for sacrifices you make for Him (Luke 6:35). In fact, Jesus said that every person who sacrifices to follow Him will be rewarded a hundredfold (Matthew 19:29).

7.  God will reward you for sharing of your time, talent, and treasure to further His kingdom (Matthew 6:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:18-19).

Don't wait for your heart to move on its own, my friend, because it might never happen. Instead, apply what you've learned from the words of Jesus. Begin to move your treasure today to what matters in heaven... and your heart will follow.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

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I do hope that you are heaven bound, dear one. That you will one day see Him face to face, and that you will receive rewards that are eternal. I do hope to see you there as we travel Homeward.

The Gate to God

Thinking today about the way to enter through the gate to God. Who decides the way? Do I? Do you?  God Himself does. It's His gate. We enter only by the way He says to enter. Why? Because He is God, and it's His gate to His kingdom. His gate. His kingdom. His way. Not mine, not yours. Not anyone's but God's.

He has told us in His Word how to enter the gate. How kind and benevolent of Him--that not only has He told us the way, but that He actually wants us to come! You and me, and many others. He wants us to be forever with Him. So much so that He even provides the way there. Oh, glorious, amazing grace!!

I do hope that you know the way and are going to live with God when your days are done here on this earth. If you don't know the way, I'd like to tell you what someone told me, and then I read it for myself from Jesus Christ in God's Word. Actually, He wants everyone to know--you, me, everyone. Jesus is God, you know. There's so much to find out about Jesus and God and truth in His Word, the Bible.

This is what He says--

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

~ Jesus, John 14:6

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all."  ~ 1 Timothy 2:5

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.      ~ Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14

Are you one of the few who have found the gate to God?  I do hope you've chosen the way to life. Not everyone is going through the gate, but I do hope to see you up there.

Photo ~ Garden Gate, Leo Reynolds, Flickr CC BY NC-SA 2.0

Fellowship In the Cemetery

Precious Gifts by Gay Talbot Boassy

The temperature was a bit warmer yesterday, so a friend and I met for a walk. A walk always lends itself to good fellowship, especially a walk in the cemetery. By the time we finished, our bodies were tired, but our spirits were refreshed.

We talked about many things--children and husbands and homes and churches and ministry opportunities and drawing closer to God and aching legs... and heaven. We got to wondering if we would have the same personalities and basically be the same person there as here. Except, of course, we wouldn't sin and our legs wouldn't ache!

Do people in heaven think about the people they left on earth like a newly widowed friend at church thinks about her husband, or anyone who has lost a loved one to death? Would he be sad that she's sad and lonely? Sadness in heaven? I do wonder sometimes what's going on up there--or out there. Wherever it is, it's glorious, if for no other reason than Jesus Christ Our Savior is there.

A walk in the cemetery--a place that draws us to think on eternal things. My widowed friend's husband is buried there. I thought of him yesterday. I thought of Ella. I saw her last evening. She is understandably lonely after 61 years of marriage. Only God's grace can be the balm for a saddened heart. Dear God, please comfort dear Ella and put your loving arms around her.

Spurgeon's yesterday Evening Meditation converges with our thoughts:

"And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them,
'Come up hither.'"—Revelation 11:12

"WITHOUT considering these words in their prophetical connection, let us regard them as the invitation of our great Forerunner to His sanctified people. In due time there shall be heard "a great voice from heaven" to every believer, saying, "Come up hither." This should be to the saints the subject of joyful anticipation. Instead of dreading the time when we shall leave this world to go unto the Father, we should be panting for the hour of our emancipation. Our song should be—

"My heart is with Him on His throne,

And ill can brook delay;
Each moment listening for the voice,
'Rise up and come away.'"
"We are not called down to the grave, but up to the skies. Our heaven-born spirits should long for their native air. Yet should the celestial summons be the object of patient waiting. Our God knows best when to bid us "Come up thither." We must not wish to antedate the period of our departure. I know that strong love will make us cry,

"O Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,

And land us all in heaven;"
but patience must have her perfect work. God ordains with accurate wisdom the most fitting time for the redeemed to abide below. Surely, if there could be regrets in heaven, the saints might mourn that they did not live longer here to do more good. Oh, for more sheaves for my Lord's garner! more jewels for His crown! But how, unless there be more work? True, there is the other side of it, that, living so briefly, our sins are the fewer; but oh! when we are fully serving God, and He is giving us to scatter precious seed, and reap a hundredfold, we would even say it is well for us to abide where we are. Whether our Master shall say "go," or "stay," let us be equally well pleased so long as He indulges us with His presence."

Spurgeon's This Evening's Meditation