Facing the Giant of Grief and LossChikamu
You don’t get to heaven by chance
‘In My Father’s house are many mansions.’ John 14:2 NKJV
How will I recognise my loved ones without their earthly bodies? The same way the disciples recognised Moses and Elijah even though they’d died hundreds of years before (see Mark 9:4). You’ll be as much God’s child in Heaven as you are on earth, except without your earthly body. That awaits the return of the Lord when, ‘we will all be transformed!’ (1 Corinthians 15:51 NLT). Will we still be learning and growing? Absolutely! The structure of an atom will be child’s play compared to what you’ll learn there. Imagine being able to study all of history from God’s perspective! Or travelling, not at the speed of light, but of thought! Will we have time for leisure and relaxation? Of course, heaven’s a place of rest. You can plant a garden without sweat, drought or weeds. You can create a poem or an oratorio. You can carve wood or paint a landscape. To praise God? Yes, everything in Heaven is for His praise. Will there be anything there to worry about? No. No guns, bombs, crime, drunkenness, violence, theft or war. The doors won’t have locks on them. All the things that made life fearful here on earth will be gone forever, ‘no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’ (Revelation 21:4 NIV). How do you get to heaven? By choice, not chance; by accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Have you done that yet?
Prayer Point:
Lord, I yearn for a day when there will be no stress or worry. Yet I realise today I can live a life that will release all the grief and pain in my life. I choose today to have that appointment with You, that moment where it’s You and me, where nothing comes in between. Thank You. Amen.
Zvinechekuita neHurongwa uhu
Any grieving process is painful. But if you are facing the loss of a loved one, the Bible says God is ‘near to the broken-hearted’ (Psalm 34:18 ESVUK), and He is able to carry you through the process of grieving. Read this 30-day devotional from UCB about how God draws close to those experiencing grief and loss.
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