Funeral Folly: Forget "Better Place"

S - "Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13--18 LEB)

O - We’ve been taught to think of "better place" when it comes to death, dying and the departure from earth of those we love. This is not the teaching of Jesus or of the Scriptures. While heaven is obviously a better place than literally anywhere else, the place is never the point. The point is always who one is with. The verses above confirm this essential distinction. The absence of war is not the same as having peace. The absence of hate does not equate to love. Heaven is heaven not because there is an absence of death, sin and suffering … heaven is heaven because Jesus is there and he is life; vibrant refreshing, irrepressible, eternal life. Heaven doesn't make him anything; Jesus makes heaven heaven. His reply to the request of the thief being crucified next to him ring with this awesome truth. "And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (My highlight - Luke 23:43 LEB)

A - In this season of my life I have the privilege of a ton of national and international travel. When I'm completing one of these trips and my plane lands at the airport in Eugene, Oregon the world, secular and religious, says I'm home. But I know better. I won't be home until I'm with Jan. Eugene is the place but Jan is home. Jan makes Eugene home; Eugene doesn't make Jan anything. This reflects the beauty of belonging to Jesus in an ongoing relationship. He is the point of it all and when I'm in his company everything is possible, everything is being worked for good and I really will "live happily for ever after."

P - Lord who is life,

I accept this transformation in my thinking as you intend for me and for the entire human race. Thank you for calling us all to yourself and not just a place. Thank you that you are near now and asking me to stay near and keep following. I admit the Scriptures have it right.

I love you back,

Steve

Where Heaven Touches Earth

S - "Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony! If I tell you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:11-12 LEB)

O - Over 90% of all that Jesus said was about earth; how the kingdom that is near interfaces here and how we are to live out each day in this "present age".  His words about earth are understandable and straightforward; so straightforward that a third grader can understand them.  The problem is we don't believe they will work on this planet so we really don't accept them.  We want to accept Jesus' testimony about heaven but ignore or alter his testimony about earth.  According to Jesus, we can know we believe him about heaven if we actually believe him about earth.

A - Money, enemies, love, forgiveness, what we eat, wear and store-up are among the many things Jesus instructs us on.  This question of Jesus to Nicodemus continues to deeply influence my thinking and my living. I will believe Jesus about earth … unto the life that is really life.

P - Father of Jesus and God of all,

Thank you for sending Jesus who is the message, the gospel, the exact representation of your person.  I admit that he has called me to follow, to believe, to trust and to welcome the kingdom on earth as it happens in heaven.  I accept his testimony about earth and am so very grateful to be discovering that his instruction actually works here.  Thank you for not leaving us alone or on our own.

Living and praying in Jesus' Name,

Steve