Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah! I am with the Lord! Glory, ready, go!
—From the scaffold
~Charles J. Guiteau (1841-1882)
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in 1 Thessalonians 4
Oh beloved, there are days. And then, there are days.
This writer lives in the second largest metropolis on the planet. The Jabodetabek area pulses with the rhythm of over 26 million souls. And my neighborhood has a density of over 17,000 humans per square kilometer. There are minarets screaming the prayers of mullahs during the lead up to Idul Adha. And the ride to work a few kilometres away on my tiny motorbike is usually more exciting than a video game, and quite a bit more dangerous.
This morning, i hardly noticed.
Immediately before leaving for a day of ministering to and teaching 300+ students at an international school, my mom sent a text from the USA. … “Selina is safely home with Jesus.” The woman is a common and dear friend who was suffering through a lethal lung disease.
There is however, an astounding difference to news like this – once we know Him. And what leaped from the heart of this fool was nothing other than: “Amen. Thanks for the update. So glad for her! Wow, what a day she is having!!!”
How does this happen? How does death no longer have any sting?
The Gospel is real.
Jesus really died for all of our sins.
Jesus really paid the price for all of them.
Jesus really arose from the dead.
Jesus triumphed over the grave in such astounding fashion that death is dead for the believer.
Colossians 2 says it best:
Hey Sister! Amazing ride for you, eh?
Here is your challenge… Spend so much time getting to know Him, that you barely notice the difference when you take your last breath here, and take your first breath there in His near Presence.
She wrote back…
Thank you so much Makala and Melinda! I greatly appreciate your prayers. As I said in my email I just ask that you pray for my family and friends that are hurting over this! Jesus has me so tightly in His arms, there is nothing personally I need for prayer. God has graciously given me this time of (being) somewhat disabled to draw closer to Him. As always HE has orchestrated a beautiful plan and harmony for my walk with Him!
What an abundance of blessings He has poured out in your lives! Hallelujah!!
Love in Christ
In HIS EMBRACE!
Selina
May God bless you richly!
Are these the words of someone afraid?
Are these the rantings of someone swaying under the influence of pain medication?
Are these the simple brave gasps of someone screwing up their courage to die?
No.
In our dialog during her last months, i had the privilege watching someone who simply knew that Jesus was real. She could hear His voice. And as she made the choices a dying human needs to make, there was a clarity and strength that simply could not be present, other than in someone who was utterly confident in the One who was laying out her path.
What if we truly believed this? How then would we live?
Think about it.
