Within the last few weeks, our church family has lost a number of members to death – one was my sweet Aunt Janet, my father’s youngest sister. And today, we sang at the funeral of another dear brother in Christ. I am always reminded of the words of King David during times like these that the departed cannot come back to us, but we can go to them. And as the days go by, I become increasingly aware that our days are numbered, and that familiar faces are leaving from here and gathering over there.
Ever so often, I think of the post I made some time ago. I referenced one of the readings from “Our Daily Bread” which began with, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 5:8
A commentary followed which included a beautiful description of dying by Henry van Dyke:
“I am standing at the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck of white cloud, just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. . . . And just at the moment when someone at my side says: ‘There, she is gone!’ there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: ‘Here she comes!’ And that is dying.”
Our Lord, has made the provisions for that last journey. It will be a moment when we close our eyes here, and wake up over there. It will be a day of unspeakable joy for the precious elect! Until that day, let’s make every day count for Him.
