Heaven

 My mother passed away last week.  

Of course I knew this day would come as death is a part of life; none of us get a pass.  I've tried to prepare myself for the loss, the grief, and the finality of things.  I knew that 'that' phone call would come eventually.  What I was not anticipating nor prepared for was the grief I would experience for my father, for his immeasurable loss.  The love of a spouse after 69 years of marriage is like none other.  

As I drove home from my parents' house, I drove in silence for about the first hour and a half, deep in my own thoughts, processing everything that happened and contemplating life and death.  When I finally decided to put the radio on, I did some searching as I was in the middle of nowhere Florida and did not get too many radio signals.  It was Sunday morning in the south so much of what was on was sermons or Christian music.  I settled on a station playing gospel songs and initally got lost in my own thoughts again. 

After about a minute of being lost in thought, my brain picked up on the lyrics of a song that was playing.  Friends, God's. Timing. Is. Perfect.  

The song I heard was one I had never heard before; the lyrics left me speechless. 

Earth's toiling ended, oh glorious dawning

Beyond the sunset when day is done

Should you go first and I remain to walk the road alone

I'll live in memory's garden dear with happy days we've known

In spring I'll watch for roses red, when fades the lilac blue

And in early fall when brown leaves fall, I'll catch a glimpse of you

Should you go first and I remain, to finish with the scroll

No lengthening shadows shall creep in to make this life seem droll

We've known so much of happiness, and we've had our cup of joy

But memory is one gift of God that death cannot destroy.

Should you go first and I remain, for battles to be fought

Each thing you've touched along the way, will be a hallowed spot

I'll hear your voice and I'll see your smile and though blindly I may grope

The memory of your helping hand will buoy me on with hope

Should you go first and I remain, one thing I'd have you do.

Walk slowly down that long, long path, for soon I'll follow you

And I'd want to know each step you take that I may walk the same

For someday down that lonely road, you'll hear me call your name

Beyond the sunset, oh glad reunion

With our dear loved ones, who've gone before

In that fair homeland, we'll know no parting

Beyond the sunset for ever more

You can listen to the song, Beyond the Sunset HERE. 

Woven in between the sadness, there is so much beauty in this song.  The love this person has for their spouse is immeasurable.  This couple knows they will see each other again.  They know there is a Heaven and they know that they will go there.  

But How? you might ask.  Death is real.  Death is permanent.  You may hope you have done enough good things in your life but how can we be certain we will go to Heaven?

But GOD.  God sent Jesus to redeem us from our sins.  There is life after death with Jesus, our Savior.  

Friends, if you are not sure you are going to Heaven, if you are not sure that you will be with your spouse in Heaven, now is the time to consider this.  Don't count on good works.  Don't assume you will make the cut because you are a good person.  And goodness, don't think it would be cool to end up in hell with all of your partying friends.  There will be no partying in hell.  The only path to Heaven is faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Confess your sins.  Call out to Him.  Seek out a pastor.  Read a Bible.  Pray. 

John 3:16- For this is how God loved the world; He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  

Ephesians 2:8-9- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not through yourselves; it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Don't wait until it is too late friends. Jesus died for you.  Seek Him out.  Make Him Lord of your life.  And know that you will be spending eternity in Heaven. 

Lee Ann