I am super-sleepy now because I have not had enough rest since Friday. I also know I have not blogged for a couple of days, not that I did not want to. On Friday I actually finished a blog and was about to post it when it suddenly went blank and the "auto-saved" came on. In the end, it saved an empty page and all my written thoughts were gone in a matter of seconds. Sigh. I was too frustrated to do it all over again. I have procrastinated till now to attempt jotting my thoughts again.
Anyway, I have a couple of things to share but for tonight, I think I will just re-enter my thoughts for the Friday's blog which went missing.
I attended a funeral of a dear brother-in-Christ's father in the morning. I was actually wondering whether I should go as I had a couple of things that I needed to prepare for the wedding which I coordinated yesterday. In the end I felt the need go and encourage my dear sibling-in-Christ and his family. Well, I did not regret the decision.
What struck me most throughout the funeral were these three words that my friend's mother said to her late husband when his coffin was wheeled towards the furnace. They were "See you again!"
That one sentence reminded me of something - that after leaving this world, it is not the end of the road for me but the beginning of another journey; the journey to heaven to be with my God Almighty and with those who have gone ahead of me. This awareness brought a lot of comfort - telling me that I should not be afraid of death because in my heart I am certain where my next destination will be.
I also know my passing will only take me away from my family and friends for a short while because eventually I will see most of them, if not all, again.
I remembered a conversation I had with a couple of siblings-in-Christ when we were younger that should any one of us die first, we will plan to wait for the others at the South gate of heaven. Of course, I do not know whether there is such a gate but the whole gist was that we were comforted to know that one day, we will see each other again.
Many times, the word "death" brings shivers to the spine and many find it too morbid to even mention it. I think as God's children who know what He has planned for us - we should not see death as a scary thing. It should be a glorious experience because we will be with the Lord in glory and all our infirmities will be healed!
This brings me to another lesson I learnt - many times when our family members or friends are sick, we would pray for healing upon them. This is the right and natural thing to do for someone we love. Sometimes, the sick would be well but yet there were other times, some would not and they are now no more with us. Does that mean that those who were healed, God answered our prayers and those who passed away, God did not?
To me, in both situations, God has answered! We must remember that death is the ultimate healing - there will be no more pain. We will be given a new being instead, free from illnesses and suffering.
As I write the above thoughts, in my heart I know I am looking forward to dying and I hope you too. This is not a curse but an encouragement.
Well, should I die the next second, let me say these words that my friend's mother used - "See you again!" :)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:1-5
Anyway, I have a couple of things to share but for tonight, I think I will just re-enter my thoughts for the Friday's blog which went missing.
I attended a funeral of a dear brother-in-Christ's father in the morning. I was actually wondering whether I should go as I had a couple of things that I needed to prepare for the wedding which I coordinated yesterday. In the end I felt the need go and encourage my dear sibling-in-Christ and his family. Well, I did not regret the decision.
What struck me most throughout the funeral were these three words that my friend's mother said to her late husband when his coffin was wheeled towards the furnace. They were "See you again!"
That one sentence reminded me of something - that after leaving this world, it is not the end of the road for me but the beginning of another journey; the journey to heaven to be with my God Almighty and with those who have gone ahead of me. This awareness brought a lot of comfort - telling me that I should not be afraid of death because in my heart I am certain where my next destination will be.
I also know my passing will only take me away from my family and friends for a short while because eventually I will see most of them, if not all, again.
I remembered a conversation I had with a couple of siblings-in-Christ when we were younger that should any one of us die first, we will plan to wait for the others at the South gate of heaven. Of course, I do not know whether there is such a gate but the whole gist was that we were comforted to know that one day, we will see each other again.
Many times, the word "death" brings shivers to the spine and many find it too morbid to even mention it. I think as God's children who know what He has planned for us - we should not see death as a scary thing. It should be a glorious experience because we will be with the Lord in glory and all our infirmities will be healed!
This brings me to another lesson I learnt - many times when our family members or friends are sick, we would pray for healing upon them. This is the right and natural thing to do for someone we love. Sometimes, the sick would be well but yet there were other times, some would not and they are now no more with us. Does that mean that those who were healed, God answered our prayers and those who passed away, God did not?
To me, in both situations, God has answered! We must remember that death is the ultimate healing - there will be no more pain. We will be given a new being instead, free from illnesses and suffering.
As I write the above thoughts, in my heart I know I am looking forward to dying and I hope you too. This is not a curse but an encouragement.
Well, should I die the next second, let me say these words that my friend's mother used - "See you again!" :)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:1-5
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