How Far Is Eternity?
One of my friends died. Suddenly.
How far is eternity? A breath? A heartbeat?
All my days have been written in God’s book since before I was woven in my mother’s womb, all dark and secret. But there’s no expiration date stamped on the bottom of my foot, so I don’t know when at the turn of the page I will find it is the end leaf. Sometimes there are warning signs, sometimes none. My mom and dad both had a winding down time. My grandfather had none.
When the last page is turned, will I have given those I love enough hugs, enough coaching on how to finish well, enough life-giving words to sustain them through the dark chapters of grief that are in their own stories?
What did the Jesus I follow every day in the everyday do when He knew the time had come?
He showed the twelve to the full extent of His love!
This meant giving them sticky memories: kneeling in front of them washing their feet; declaring that His love for them would not change even as He was warning them of their impending failures; giving healing grace to one who would seek to have Him put to death; declaring His own victory over what would take His life.
He was not crazy, He just knew that eternity was not far away.
He warned them it would get hard and sad. He promised to send Comfort and peace, different from any they had ever experienced, different from any anyone ever had experienced.
He promised to be with them, even when He was away from them (and not in the Hollywood he’ll-always-be-with-you-in-your-memories way). He promised that it would be better if He went away (again, not in the Hollywood it’s-better-this-way way) because then He could send the Holy Spirit to be in, with and beside those who follow Him FOREVER!
Because of this amazing gift, eternity is never far! We who have chosen to follow Jesus live in it through Him…now!
If you have any questions at all about your place in eternity, please ask them! Ask me, or a Bible-trusting friend, or someone you know knows God. I can’t promise like Jesus can, but I can surely go with you towards Him counting on His promises.
Following Jesus every day in the everyday,
Christi
0 Comments