OJT

So, there is much sickness and death around. We see it all over the world. It makes many uneasy, like the ground under them keeps moving. My uncle (godfather when I was Catholic), a best friend’s father, and two co-workers’ husbands have all passed away within the past few months. Another co-worker’s husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and my father-in-law took a nasty spill one night and it was so awful that the EMT’s had to cut his bedpost to get him off of it and out of the house. It seems as if I would be sad, or emotionally shot but, surprisingly, God provides peace and contentment. It doesn't mean I am unfeeling or even overjoyed in these circumstances. I also know that I am in the age-group of those who will be experiencing the past generations become ill and exit my life. But, I am more looking forward and past the times we are currently in. At two of the funerals the following scriptures were read, and I had the joy of reading one during my godfather’s service. I was asked to read Revelations 1-6 but, I’m including 1-8 for effect and to give you pause.

Revelation 21:1-8 (NIV)

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, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell 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.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

It is - to me - fantastic to read and know that God wants to and will be with us, again. In addition, to the list of all things that will pass away. My wife thinks that I’m looking forward to death but, I enjoy every little thing God has provided for me/us thus far. Sometimes, just sitting together quietly and going through time with Teri is more joyful than any Christmas, holiday, or vacation we’ve taken. Not that I don’t enjoy those but, I am more looking for a continued existence without the mourning, crying, pain, and so forth. That is what I keep my heart and eyes on, the new place for us. It also costs me nothing except belief in, and obeying Him.

In this season, a good friend's dad had the following Romans verse as part of his service.

Romans 8:28-39 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Believing in Jesus, repenting and turning from sin, and asking God’s Holy Spirit to be a part of your life brings confidence in sickness and death. Knowing what is to come brings peace and contentment because He says “all things” work for our good. I had a conversation with a pastor-friend when I was living through a bout of flesh eating bacteria a few years ago. He told me about a concept that I had never really considered before. He said that maybe what I and my family and friends were going through was preparing us for something during the Revelation 21 times, and not for today. I know I want to be with God in the Holy City one day but I thought that was a “finish line.” To think that what we do is like on-the-job-training is a better way to go through this time. We seem to want to all look for answers in and for this life. When we listen to verses read at someone’s funeral, they harken us to consider that this may just be an internship. I’d be happy to be a door polisher in eternity as long as I’m with God. It makes my job and existence here feel more like a stepping stone. Thankfully the ground beneath it is firm, it/God keeps me stable.

My Godmother, Godfather, and me. First Communion - 1972