TITLE: A Blissable Waking By Anne Harrell 12/13/05 |
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A Blissable Awaking
Just a little over a month ago, losing my father in-law, who was a Christian, made me think of Heaven once again. Nine years ago, I lost my eleven-year-old daughter. I saw things around her death that reminded me of when I lost my grandfather when I was merely fourteen years old. I was still young and very impressionable.
Anything that was out of the ordinary of super natural beings meaning Heavenly, impressed me to take another glance, to see, if I really saw what I thought I saw. I have always heard that when Christians die, some see the angels coming for them. A number of them see Christ standing at the right hand of God, waiting for the person, to join them in Heaven. Some also get a glimpse of their love ones who have exceeded them already.
What really awaits them when they die? In Rev. 21:21-25 (KJV) says
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. [22] And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. [23] And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. [24] And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. [25] And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” In Revelations 21 and 22, tell us what Heaven is like when we know Christ as our personal Savior. Without Christ as our Savior, we will not see Heaven when we die.
Heaven also is where there will be no more sorrow for Christ shall wipe away our tears. There will be no more pain or bad memories. The things here that broke our hearts will be wiped away.. Rev. 21:3-4 (KJV) says
“ And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. [4] And 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. “
Just before Dad was called home, he had been in the hospital from cancer invading his body.. Dad had shown signs of improving until forty-eight hours before he went to be with the Lord. When Dad’s health took a change for the worst just two days before, we did not see the signs, of Dad possibility dying until the next day; when he showed signs of shock form bleeding internally.
While in the emergency room on the Monday before he expired, Dad was looking up at the bright lights over the stretcher and talking to what ever he saw. He was having a good conversation with who ever, or what ever he saw. We had no idea what he was saying since he had a trach in, there was no sound coming from him. He was looking up and smiling, and pointing to the light.
There were a couple times I had to get down beside his head; following his eyes, trying to see if I saw, what he was looking at.. Dad was not afraid of dying either. I know he probably knew it was coming when he was getting no better, when the doctor was working on him at no prevail. No matter what the doctor done, Dad just was losing ground.
I knew this was the end of Dad. But deep down on the inside, I did not want to see that Dad was leaving us behind very soon. My prayer that night was, if Dad would not get better; and life was going to be more painful, was to let Dad go home to be with the Lord. I had peace beyond understanding, that what ever happens, that Dad was in the care of our Heavenly Father, and that He would see that Dad suffered no more.
Seeing Dad on Tuesday morning, I realize that there was nothing more, that could be done. Dad was going to be leaving us by the mid afternoon. Walking into the small ICU room where Dad was laying; my eyes filled with tears telling Dad, I was still proud to call him my Dad. I had told him many times over the last two months that I was very proud to call him my Dad, always provoking a smile and a “I love you”, from him. This one time Dad was not able to respond when I told him, I was proud of him.
Holding Dad’s hand and my head down next to his, I cried as I told him that his life as we know it, here on earth was ending. I spoke to Dad about what he would be seeing in a short time. He was going to see his Savior face to face. Dad would not have to guess what his Savior looked like anymore. He also was going to see his granddaughter Cyndy, who maybe was waiting for him on the other side. He was seeing his parents who he loved so dearly. The last thing told to him was to give a hug to Christ and Cyndy before having to walk out of the room from crying uncontrollably.
Just a hour or two later, all his family was at his side as he was being ushered into the presences of the Lord. Dad opened his eyes filled with tears and smiled at Mom and told her one last time he loved her. One minute later, he opened his eyes; and looked up with a clear look on his face possibly seeing the angels standing there ready to take him home. He smiled and left us very peacefully. What a beautiful exit he made. Dad was at home at last with the Lord. Now what did Dad see? We can only guess at maybe 1 Cor. 2:9-13 (ESV) can only explain what he saw and why we could see what he saw.
“ But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
Nor the heart of man imagined,
What God has prepared for those who love him"—
[10] These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. [11] For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also, no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] Now, we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1Cor.2:9-13 ESV) At last, I can say that Dad’s tears and pain have been wiped away. He is now cancer free and has no health issues anymore. Dad is enjoying his granddaughter who was taken a way prematurely. He is enjoying life to it fully now.
All scripture is copied from the English Standard Bible and the King James version Bible
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