A GREATER REUNION COMING.........

A GREATER REUNION

COMING!

 Summer is a great time for family reunions.  And my husband and I just returned from the Midwest celebrating his family’s reunion, a large family of 14 children. And there were many cousins, nieces and nephews.   Not were all present, but most of them were there.  We met at a lovely campground, and visited many places together.  As we traveled I was reminded by many comparisons to our walk with the Lord, and our journey “Home.”  Sometimes the way was through steep mountains, through valleys, across deserts.  And we, as His children also walk through steep mountains passes, through valleys of refreshment and across deserts, where our lives seem dry without the refreshment of the Living Water flowing through our desert place.

We arrived home from this journey very tired, but with many happy memories of great family times of fellowship around the table.  And we also experienced God creation everywhere we traveled.  We saw the great Salt Lake, the high deserts of Eastern Oregon, beautiful rivers flowing through fertile farmland, and experienced Thunderstorms that only happen in the Midwest.  And then there were the glorious skies with fluffy clouds, and the high mountain peaks with snow.  What a marvelous God we serve!  But sometimes we have to open our eyes and really see the beauty He has created.

But then reunions come to an end on this earth.  The time soon comes to head back into our lives, pack up and head home, wherever that may be.  And these are the sad times, these “goodbyes.”  As some of the brothers and sisters are very elderly, we may not meet them on this earth again.  One just never knows if we will see our dear friends again.  We had the wonderful opportunity to meet with dear friends on the way home, what a blessed time of fellowship we had.  But again, the “goodbyes” are so hard.  I am reminded of the hymn,   “If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven.”

“Soon we’ll come to the end of life’s journey and perhaps we’ll never meet anymore ‘til we gather in heaven’s bright city –far away on that beautiful shore.

If we never meet again this side of heaven as we struggle through this world and its strife.  There’s another meeting place somewhere in heaven by the side of the river of life.

Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separation comes no more.  If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore.

O they say we shall meet by the river where no storm clouds never darken the sky.  And they say we’ll be happy in heaven in that wonderful sweet by and by.

Where the charming roses bloom forever and where separation comes no more.  If we never meet again this side of heaven, I will meet you on that beautiful shore.”  (as sung by Johnny Cash).

Some of our loved ones and friends will come to the end of their journey before another reunion is planned.  Their struggles on the journey home will be over.  I think of one dear loved one who is the eldest of the 14 children and his struggle with age, and my dear sister-in-law, also very aged, and how precious she is, and someday, just around the next bend, over that mountain there, will be their heavenly home, and we will meet them again someday in the greatest reunion of them all, and there won’t be any more separations and saying “goodbye”.  Are you ready for that day, my friends?  I pray that you will be prepared spiritually for that great time coming, because time is indeed short.  And some of us will remain until that great day when Jesus Christ returns in the clouds for His own, and what day that will be.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord” I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

Try to imagine with me what that reunion will be like.  All our family, who love the Lord will all be together again, laughing and sharing again, never to be parted again.  I think of my husband’s dear mother, and my mother, and others who have gone on, what a time that will be.  How can one describe that joyous time, and to see Jesus face to face, at last!

And then, just as we gathered around that table at the campground, sharing and laughing, sharing a wonderful meal, we will gather around the Lord’s table, with our families and loved ones, and the saints from the ages.  “Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Yes, we will gather around that table with the Lord Himself, and what a gathering that will be!  And we will all be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.  We have great family times here, but try to imagine what it will be like to gather with the Lord’s family, multitude without number, praising and worshiping our God!

So our reunions here end, but there is this great reunion coming of all God’s children, no more sadness, sickness or pain and where we will never grow old.  Our journey here will be completed at last, and we will be home forever, Praise His Holy Name!  If you are not ready for this great reunion, please make that decision now before it is too late.  Just ask Him to come into your heart, He is waiting for you and He loves you, He died for you, and He will prepare a place just for you in His eternal home, come now!

Pastor Sharon