I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23 ESV
I used to visit an elderly couple, who were physically no longer able to come to the church services. I would bring my guitar so that we could sing together, and we always laughed when their two parakeets decided to join in. While on the slower hymns they would cheep and dance a bit on their perch, when we sang the hymn, “I’ll Fly Away”, they often got so excited that on the days when the cage door was left open, they flew right out and up onto a high shelf, where they joyfully tweeted with all their might!
That memory from years ago came back to me yesterday with the passing of yet another dear friend into the presence of Jesus. It reminded me that while we are here on earth, we are in a body that like the bird cage is not our permanent home. We can sing and praise the Lord the best we can from our low perch, but at the time that God chooses we have an appointment to keep with Jesus. Because of His death and resurrection, our cage door has been opened and when we hear His voice we will spread our own wings and fly up and away. There He has prepared a high and heavenly new perch from which we be able to sing a hymn of praise forever – on that highest ground of all!
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 2 Corinthians 5:6 KJV
Just a few weeks ago I spent part of an afternoon with my 92 year old friend Evelyn. Since her daughter and son-in-law had left that morning on the way to the Ark Encounter and her son wasn’t coming until late afternoon, she was spending most of the day alone. So I packed up my guitar, a bit of apple cake I had made the night before and came by to keep her company for a while. At first I mostly listened as Evelyn talked to me about growing up in the 1930’s-40’s and then about her late husband who had been in the church choir as well as tidbits of family history. Finally as she was winding down, I mentioned that I had my guitar out in the car and if she would like I would bring it in so I could sing her a few of her favorite hymns. “Oh I don’t think so.” she said firmly.
“Well then I’ll still need to bring it in.” I answered politely. “The heat in the car will damage the wood.” I explained.
“”Oh if you’re going to bring it inside anyway, then go ahead and play me a few songs.” Evelyn told me. “But I can’t sing.” she added as I headed out the door. So I came in with my instrument and began warming up with, “Just a Closer Walk With Thee.” She nodded and smiled but continued a silent audience, so I encouraged her by saying, “You know even if you don’t think you can sing anymore, God is listening to your heart singing. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks it sounds like.” Then, I continued with several other hymns, until finally I began the first verse of “How Great Thou Art.” My habit while I sing the chorus of that song, is to close my eyes and imagine God surrounded by mighty angels and crowds of worshipping saints. What a thrill went through me as I opened my eyes between verses and noticed Evelyn singing along, this time with both her heart and lips!
On Mother’s Day Evelyn had a fall in her home. She wasn’t injured in the fall but because she was too weak to stand she was taken to the hospital and then admitted to the ICU. Of course our small group prayed for her to recover and at first it looked like our dear friend was rallying, but it was not to be. God had made other plans than we had and on this past Saturday Evelyn stepped from her frail body here on earth into heaven. This morning at Panera’s where I meet with a small men’s prayer group, I leaned from her son-in-law, that the last song Evelyn heard was my simple recording of When We All Get To Heaven. I don’t mention this to make it seem something special but to encourage you not to underestimate the small and simple things that God gives you an opportunity to do for others. You will never know how much the cup of cold water you give some one is needed and how fleeting your opportunity to give it. Below is the YouTube session the song she loved. I will bet dollars to donuts she is singing better than ever with all her heart right now in the presence of the Lord who listens to every song.
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.John Wesley
Luke 23:52-53 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
When Jesus was born, Mary wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger because there was no room for him in the inn. At His death Joseph of Arimathaea took him down from the cross and wrapped him in clean linen and put him in Joseph’s own tomb, because Jesus did not have His own. From birth to his last breathe on earth it was clear that there was nowhere on this planet that Jesus belonged, because His true home was in Heaven and in our hearts. When we put our faith in Him for salvation, what was true for Jesus becomes true for us. We lose our acceptance on earth but we gain a citizenship in heaven where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We are called to higher ground! I pray you will be blessed by the video today and that you will be encouraged as you remember that we are called by faith to stand on heaven’s tableland!
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