This past week my last surviving aunt passed away. Of the
eleven brothers and sisters, my mom is now the last remaining. As my pastor
shared a prayer before worship practice, she thanked God for eternity. This
struck a chord with me as I realized how wonderful a gift this is. Even in our
last hour, minutes, or second He still offers us life eternal with Him. All we
need do is reach up with our heart and say yes.
Being a thousand miles away from my aunt and cousins in
Ontario, our lives have a disconnect where we don’t really know where or how
anyone else’s walk with God is. Our lives, over the years have all led us in
many different directions. As far as God is concerned, our personal relationship
with Him is just that, personal. The last few weeks of my aunt’s life left her
without verbal communication with my uncle and cousins, so we may never know if
she spoke of God. My hope is that in her time and in her own way, there was an
accepted love gift in her heart that was a key to the gates of Heaven. That
gift would be her yes to Jesus’ invitation.
It’s not for us to speak into someone else’s faith walk, yet
it is up to us to make sure that everyone knows that there is an eternal place
of rest. It is up to us to offer that place, and share the gift of promise in
the eternal home with Christ. God has given us all the gift of freedom of
choice. He has also offered us all the gift of an eternal home Him. All we have
to do is claim it, by accepting Jesus as our one and only Savior, with no other
god’s before us.
My hope is that my aunt and all the other aunts,
uncles, mom’s, dad’s, and loved ones realized that, yes there is a forever
home. Yes, all of our ills, afflictions and weaknesses are erased once we say
good-bye to those we leave behind. That home, if we accept Jesus, is Heaven.
Then when we are face to face we can all thank our God for eternity.
Mike Shindruk
www.mastershandministry.blogspot.com
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