Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Kathy and I are in Alaska again. Our plane touched down at 2:15 a.m. on
Tuesday morning after being gone on vacation for almost 3 weeks visiting family
and friends. As I began writing this
devotion on the plane, I “eagerly awaited” returning to my home in Alaska! My children and my grandchildren live in
Palmer. I’ve missed them while I was out
of town. My church family at St. John is
also located in Palmer. And, while gone,
I have thought of many of our people, praying and wishing I could be there to
bring God’s love. I confess that I find joy
and fulfillment in serving in the place where God has called me. After two weeks of vacation I was sort of
“chomping at the bit” to be back doing the work God has called me to do. After 3 weeks I confess to “early awaiting”
our return home . . . sort of.
The last two weeks of our vacation was in Gainesville,
Florida. My dad lives in Gainesville and
we spent time with him. We ate with my
dad, ran errands with him, and worshiped with him while visiting. My brothers and sister also live in
Florida. I saw most of them on this trip,
as well as many nephews and nieces. God
has blessed me with a wonderful extended family. I appreciate time spent with them in
conversation, in worship, in recreation, just being family. In addition to blood family, while in
Gainesville Kathy and I worshiped at First Lutheran Church, the church that has
been the cradle of much of my faith as a Christian. In addition to my dad, there are many others
at this congregation whom I know from when I was a child. We have a shared faith journey. It was good to visit family and friends, and it
was also good to visit church family in Florida. I eagerly awaited my return to Alaska. But, in returning home, I had to leave family
and friends in Florida.
Are you eagerly awaiting another
trip, your journey to heaven? God speaks
through Paul to give this promise to the Christians in Philippi, “20 But our citizenship is in
heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21
who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21) Are you eagerly awaiting eternal life in heaven with God? If so, why do you eagerly await this journey?
That is a big question with multiple answers for each
person. Some people are looking forward
to seeing their Savior, face to face. I
have met Christians who shared with me their fervent hope of meeting Jesus. Some people look forward to an end to the pain
and suffering of this world. That can
especially true for those who are ill, or those who miss loved ones who have
passed on. Others look forward to life
that lasts forever with no fear of death.
Scripture gives us many reasons to do what Paul says, “to eagerly await
our Savior.” Again, why are you looking
forward to eternal life in heaven with Jesus?
You may ask, “Pastor, what does this question have to do
with your visit with family and friend’s in FL, and your return home to Alaska?
Yes, I am glad to be home in Alaska, but
I was also glad to visit those in Florida.
However, I am only human and cannot be in both places at once.
So, let me share some of the
reasons why I eagerly await eternal life in heaven. I also fervently look forward to time with my
Lord. But, in many ways I can’t imagine
the “glory to be revealed” (Romans 8:19) when I meet Jesus. I also look forward to the end of pain and
trouble of this world. Yet, life in this world also has many blessings.
(Revelation 21:3-4). But, one of the big
reasons I look forward to eternal life in heaven is that I won’t have to say
“good bye” any longer. Actually, I’ve had
this hope about heaven throughout my adult life. When I would leave family and friends for
school, or when I would leave the churches where I was pastor to visit family
and friends, I have regretted saying “Good-Bye.” In heaven, I won’t have to say “Good-Bye”
anymore.
In fact, think of those whom
God has called home. There are family
members, friends, fellow Christians, who have died believing in Jesus and are
now in heaven. There is no trip on this
earth which I can take to spend time with those loved ones and friends who have
died. Yet, in heaven, I can spend as
much time as I want with loved ones and friends who have believed in Jesus, and,
after spending time with them, still have time for others. With the gift of heaven, God gives eternal life. In heaven, I won’t have to say “Good-Bye”
anymore!
William Shakespeare is famous for writing the phrase,
“Parting is such sweet sorrow” in his tragic drama, “Romeo and Juliet.” I think I understand what Shakespeare meant. But, “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly
await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Thankfully, in heaven we will not have to say, “Good-Bye anymore!”
A Child of God, Thankful for the Promise of Eternal Life
in Heaven,
Pastor Jonathan
******
ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first
time.) However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me
know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.
******
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