The Windmills of Consuegra (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain), seen at dusk in the image, were built in the first half of the 19th century and were proclaimed as Spanish Historical Site in 2008. Photo by Hugo Díaz-Regañón

Good morning,

The Temporal and the Eternal

We live between the two. Whether we want to think on this reality or ignore, when death comes to our door, it is a forced issue to ponder. Do we believe the words of Paul?

5 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, ³ inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. ⁴ For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5 NASB

As I drove my husband to the airport a week before Christmas to spend precious time with his dad, we reflected on the gift his parents had given him. Peace. His dad knows Jesus, loves Jesus, taught his kids to love Jesus.  His dad’s house is being torn down as I write. I watch my husband haunt his phone for word from his family down in Florida. I cannot speak for how Joshua’s dad feels, but as I watched my Grandma pass from this life to her heavenly home, she struggled because I knew she did not want to leave her beloveds here on earth. Yet, heaven was calling for her.

The groans of this life, the burdens feel so overwhelming to us. These last few days, watching my husband as he grieves, processes and moves through the stages of grief, I am so very relieved that he had the week with his dad, with his family. Tears fill his eyes.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight— ⁸ we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.                  2 Corinthians 5 NASB

There is always hope when our loved ones know and love Jesus. Always. We can be of good courage. We can face the death of our beloved. Even our own death because, well, reread the quote above! On this earth, we walk by faith. But when we close our eyes for the last time, our faith shall be our sight. Oh, my. We shall be at home with the Lord. That is our real home.

That is not to say that the stages of grief and death are light or easy or pain-free. I am so very grateful for the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead, aren’t you? There is so much amazing about that story to all of us, isn’t there? However to me, today, one point I want to make.

³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and^[h]was troubled, ³⁴ and said, “Where have you laid him?”They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵ Jesus wept. John 11 NASB

Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus. He was deeply moved, troubled. He wept. He mourned with them. He knows we need this, He grieves with us. Even. though. HE. knows. the. end. of . the. story. Mercy, He is the end of the story! He sits with us in our grief and loves us through.

To you, my dear reader, wherever you are in the grief process. He holds your hand.

⁸ You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book? Psalm 56 NASB

To my husband, I love you. I’m sorry you walk this road. You do not walk alone. I’ll hold your hand the whole way.