Wednesday, July 25, 2007
As I think about the recent passing of Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, I am drawn to thoughts of heaven. There are so many who have gone before: family, dear saints whose singing and teaching and love have helped carry me thorough the troubles of this world. Oh, how wonderful it would be to sit with my mother and brother and rejoice. Then to sit with Tammy and Vestal and Jake and George and sing with heaven's choir. To listen to teaching of Henri Nouwen and so many Bible teachers and Sunday School teachers from my childhood, too many to even attempt to name. I'd love to sit and chat with Hermann Braunlin and Jack Wyrtzen. And then, wow, no offense to Paul, who has taught me much, but to just sit and talk with James from whom I legally took my middle name.
No, I am not forgetting about the most important Person, Jesus Christ, but He knows me fully without me saying a word. He knows my every thought; to Him there is nothing I could say in words that He doesn't already know; what I would say is because I need to say it, and it would not be speaking; it would be me singing Him a love song. For Him, I, like John the Beloved, just want to lay my head on His chest and listen to His heartbeat -- the very heartbeat of God. Tears are flowing. I am homesick.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face-to-face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV)
And someday, also with those family, teachers, mentors and friends, who now still remain, I will ascend and we will gather in Glory where all earthly differences will be naught, and we will worship the King in unity.
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Beyond The Sunset
Virgil P. Brock, Blanche Kerr Brock
Beyond the sunset, 0 blissful morning,
When with our Savior heaven is begun;
Earth's toiling ended, 0 glorious dawning,
Beyond the sunset, when day is done.
Beyond the sunset no clouds will gather,
No storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
0 day of gladness, 0 day unending,
Beyond the sunset, eternal joy!
Beyond the sunset a hand will guide me
To God the Father, whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
Will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, 0 glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who've gone before;
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset, forevermore!
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1 Thessalonians 4:17 (New American Standard Bible)
"Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
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