“I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice … said, “Come up here …” – Revelation 4:1
Yesterday evening, at 6:30pm, the doors of heaven opened … and someone very special was swept up off this Earth and into the arms of Jesus!
And in a loving embrace, Jesus said: “Welcome home my beloved one! Well done. Your race is complete. You were faithful to the end. Enter into the joy prepared for you!”
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
Held by Jesus!!
And those of us who are left behind on this Earth weep!!
And Jesus holds us!!
Grief sweeps over us in torrents! … like the waters rushing over the falls!
And Jesus holds us!!
Our souls churn with the intensity of the loss! … soul-wrenching heartache! … suffocating sorrow! … disappointment! … the struggle to continue on …
And Jesus holds us!!
At the recent wedding in our backyard, the couple held hands and gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes … as they pledged to each other: To have and to hold … until death do us part.
This is the one part of the wedding vows which is not applicable when we say “I Do” to Jesus Christ.
When we and Jesus pledge to each other “To have and to hold … from this day forward …” – death has no power over this commitment. Death cannot ever separate us! Because Jesus conquered death! Jesus conquered the grave!
“He [Jesus!] placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” – Revelation 1:17-18
When we say “I Do” to Jesus, and pledge “To have and to hold” with Jesus … our soul is forever secure! Our soul forever belongs to Jesus!
Death might bring to an end our time in our frail, earthly bodies. But when our time on this Earth reaches its conclusion … the doors of heaven open, and our soul is swept up out of our frail, earthly body … and we are immediately wrapped in the welcoming, loving arms of Jesus!!
To have and to hold!! Forever!!
“Death has been swallowed up in victory! … Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:54, 57
“And so we will be with the Lord forever.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise’
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’”
– Revelation 5:11-13
(This photo is extra special for this post, because this photo is the sunrise on Easter morning of this year. Because of the Resurrection we have Hope!)
“Because He Lives … I can face tomorrow …
Because He Lives … all fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future!
My life is worth the living, just because He Lives!”
Held by Jesus!!
