During life, we ‘spend’ the days of our lives in a variety of ways, and recently, a day was ‘spent’ attending the visitation services of three deceased.  According to their beloved families, all three professed to be believers, and so the attendance of those present was made sweater knowing these had gone from earth to heaven.

Early in the day, we attended the visitation for one who we never really knew, but we know his father, so we attended for this reason.  Then after lunch, we attended the visitation for another, for one we personally knew, one who did not live long but who left earth early.  There is a Wild Love that Runs After Us, a Love that Pursues us to Redeem us, and a Love that Brings us Home once our earthly life is complete.

Late in the day, we received the opportunity to travel a couple of hours drive to attend the visitation and funeral of a dear grandmother.  Grandmother Audrey was gifted with ninety-nine years to walk the face of the earth, and now she has gone, leaving for her heavenly home, and what a glorious celebration it was to share in the celebration of her going.  Let me explain through the truth of the Holy Scriptures.

The psalmist wrote—

Precious in God’s sight:  Isn’t that the most beautiful thought?  Once a person has given his heart to Jesus and becomes a “SAINT,” then the LORD GOD PROMISES TO BRING HIS SAINTS HOME.  Saints of God do NOT go to the graveyard to “push up daisies,” nor do they “pass away to be buried.”  No, those redeemed by the blood of Christ Jesus do NOT die, nor do they “kick the bucket.”

• The saints of God go home!
• The saints of the Lord Jesus Christ live forever in His presence!

No longer are they suffering & No longer are they trapped in their sinful, human body BECAUSE THEY NOW RESIDE IN THE SWEET PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD.  This is why the psalmist wrote the “the death of His godly ones” is “precious in the sight of the LORD.”

Therefore, as we attended Grandmother Audrey’s visitation and funeral, we celebrated her godly life she lived while she walked on earth and the godly example she demonstrated through her life.  We celebrated Ms. Audrey’s going home to her Savior Jesus.  She was loved by God; she was sanctified in Christ; and she trusted in Christ’s love, belonging to His Church.  So, we could stand together as a congregation and lift our voices to sing “Amazing Grace,” and we could share in the pastor’s message of faith, calling others who were present in that beautiful sanctuary, others who might not be saved, who are not ready (yet) to die.  Finally, we could listen to her godly grandson read her obituary, hearing the names of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, realizing how she led so many to faith in Christ through her godly life.  The Bible is so clear about sin, death, separation, and God’s New Life.  As the prophet Isaiah wrote, the saints of God—

Therefore, it’s not “hope to see you later on the other side” or “hope to see you soon over there” BECAUSE THE DAY IS COMING WHEN WE WHO BELIEVE WILL BE TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS OF GOD, WORSHIPPING TOGETHER IN HEAVEN, FOR WE—

• BELONG TO GOD AS HIS CHURCH,
• SANCIFIED IN CHRIST, AND
• FILLED WITH FAITH BECAUSE WE HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST’S AMAZING LOVE.

The saints of God have the promise of the promised land, but until then, as they walk the narrow road, they need Jesus to walk with them, for this world is filled with struggles, with sin, and with separation.  They see with spiritual eyes through God’s Word the promise of heaven, but until that day when the Jesus comes to take His “saints” home, they may struggle with disease, with the fog of dementia, or with the trials of life.  Oh, how precious is death in the LORD’S sight, for they are now no longer suffering or separated from HIM; they are now at home in HIS presence.  Truly, this makes us shout:  “Hallelujah!”

The writer of The Letter to the Hebrews wrote about the distinct contrast between those who die in their sins and those who die in the LORD, of those who have the glorious “going home” because they are saints of Holy God.  We read and see who the believers in Christ Jesus are “going home” to some day soon.  Let us who remain here on earth, who have minutes and hours and days to proclaim the LORD’S goodness not grow weary in our witness, but let us be busy sharing our testimony.  Thank you Grandmother Audrey for reminding us through your faithful life and earthly death of what it means to live and die as a “saint of God,” and Thank You, God, for the Hope of “a kingdom which cannot be shaken”