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Grief causes us to value love more ... wasted moments in our lives become more precious when they cannot be repeated and changes our perspective on life. It's trite but true that how we deal with sorrow will make us either bitter or better.
"I open my heart to Jesus in my grief, While we miss our precious loved one who has gone on to Heaven, we thank God that he/she is now free of all pain and suffering and experiencing what we all long to experience---seeing Jesus face to face in our eternal Home with Him! We thank God that "death is swallowed up in victory," and that it doesn't have the last word, because Jesus was victor over the grave and death (1 Cor.15:51-58). He is the only One who can calm our fears and dry our tears, and is our Light to banish every shadow and who plans our every tomorrow. He is the One who is our Key to every problem and our Balm for every sorrow ... "I will comfort you as a child is comforted by its mother" (Isa.66:13).
Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed Face, and the lustre of His kindly beaming eye, how my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love, and grace that prepares for me a mansion in the sky! Oh the dear ones in glory how they beckon me to come! And our parting at the river I recall, to the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome Home, but I long to meet my Saviour first of all! Through the gates of the city in a robe of spotless white He will lead me where no tears will ever fall, in the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight, but I long to meet my Saviour first of all!
I shall know Him, I shall know Him when redeemed by His side I shall stand! I shall know Him, I shall know Him by the print of the nails in His hands!"
Max Lucardo asked, "What will happen when we see Jesus? We will see unblemished purity and unbending strength. We will feel His unending presence and know His unbridled protection. And we will be like Him! That's the promise of 1 John 3:2, "when Christ comes again we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is!" Since we'll be pure as snow, we will never sin again, we will never stumble again, we will never feel lonely again, we will never doubt again! When Christ comes, we will dwell in the Light of God, and we will see Him as he really is! "Earth hath no sorrows that Heaven can't heal" ... I softly repeat this, and great comfort I feel in the storm of sorrow's dark night, and I look for the morn when joy will come as He promised, as He gently wipes the tears from my eyes!
One day I'll see clearly a Face I adore, and greet myr dear loved ones who've gone on before! There it will be gone every heartache that here I feel, for earth hath no sorrows that Jesus can't heal!"
"God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away!" (Rev.21:4) If Angels can speak great words from above and fly with wings of God's given love ... if chariots can ride over dark clouds and instruments can sing praises out loud ... if sparrows can stand on the housetop alone, then God still comforts his own! Perhaps the greatest of all miracles of healing is when we reach our eternal destination ... where the only tears are of those left behind. May we embrace and comfort each other in our time of loss. But, may our lasting memory be a spiritual celebration ... envisioning our loved one, walking through Heaven's Gate!
Were they able to speak today, I suspect our loved one would say, "In deepest sympathy ... to those on the other side! (Joyce C. Lock)
"I will lead and comfort those who mourn" (Isa.57:18). As I wrestle with these problems in this night that is so dark and long, just like Jacob with the angel from the struggle, my strength is almost gone, and there are times when it seems that I will lose this fight. but I'll hold on and I'll wait for the morning light! I can't see through this darkness and these tears don't seem to go away, but I pray for the sunrise, there is hope at breaking of the day, He's promised joy in the morning, weeping may last for the night, but I'll hold on and I'll wait for the morning light! I can feel His hand in my hand, as He leads me through what I cannot see, at the end of this darkness there's a new day dawning just for me, and up ahead there's a victory in sight, so I'll hold on and I'll wait for the morning light!
I can't see through this darkness and these tears don't seem to go away, but I pray for the sunrise amd there is hope at breaking of the day, He's promised joy in the morning, weeping may last for the night, but I'll hold on and I'll wait for the morning light, I must hold on, and I'll wait for the mornign light!
(Anon)
"Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope" (2 Thess.2:16). We'll never say goodbye in heaven---in that land of joy and song and we'll never say goodbye! Just beyond where the shadows are falling is a bright summerland ever fair; with the brilliance of day it is glowing, and the night never falls over there. The beautiful light is shining so clear where darkness can never come; soon we shall have passed the shadowy vale and anchored in peace at Home. I’ll not fear when I pass through the valley, though encompassed by shadows of night, for I know that beyond it is shining an eternal and glorious light. With His rod and His staff He will comfort, when obscured is the light of the day if I trust in the word of His promise, with His hand He will guide all the way.
Shall we weep when we know the departed with their toils and their cares now are done, and the bliss of eternity’s ages in the Presence of God is begun?
(Charles W. Naylor)
I'm Home at last! The strife is over, the battle done, now is the victor's triumph won! Now be the song of praise begun, hallelujah! The powers of death have done their worst, but Christ their legions has dispersed, let shouts of holy joy outburst, hallelujah! Lord, by the stripes which wounded you, from death's sting free your servants too that we may live and sing to you, hallelujah! I have climbed the rugged mountain, on its summit now I stand, hallelujah! I have entered Beulah Land! Oh, my cup is overflowing with the goodness of the Lord, I am trusting in His mercy, and rejoicing in His Word, hallelujah! From the sighing and the longing that so oft my heart oppressed, with my Savior and Redeemer now in perfect peace I rest, hallelujah! There's a palace over the river and its jasper walls I see, and among its many mansions there is one prepared for me, hallelujah! I have climbed the rugged mountain, but my Savior led the way; unto Him shall be the glory, when I reach eternal day, hallelujah! I have climbed the rugged mountain, on its summit now I stand; hallelujah! hallelujah! I have entered Beulah Land! (Fanny Crosby)
My Savior comes and walks with me, and sweet communion here have we; He gently leads me by His hand, for this is Heaven's Borderland! A sweet perfume upon the breeze is borne from ever vernal trees, and flowers that never fading grow where streams of life forever flow! The zephyrs seem to float to me, sweet sounds of Heaven's melody, as Angels with the white-robed throng join in the sweet redemption song, hallelujah! (Edgar P. Stites)
I'm looking now across that River, to where my faith's gonna end in sight! There's just a few more days to labor, then I will take my heavenly flight! Beulah Land, I'm longing for you, and someday on thee I'll stand! There my home shall be eternal, in Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land! (Squire Parsons Jr. from Isaiah 62:4)
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