Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This past weekend some dear friends of ours were able to come into town for a brief visit. It was such a HUGE blessing to spend time with them, though the time went by way too quickly. Every member of their precious family is a beautiful example of living out faith in Jesus Christ. They have five children (teens and older) and it is so evident in their lives that our friends have instilled the teachings of Christ in their hearts. They are a beautiful family. They also brought with them two sweet young ladies, one who will be their future daughter-in-law and one who is an intern at their Christian camp in OK. I was also very impressed with their love for Jesus and with their beautiful, sweet spirits.
We met this family years ago when our dear friend and youth pastor led us out to OK. I remember we were supposed to go to Norway as chaperones on a youth mission trip, but 9-11 happened and it was not safe to go out of the country with 30+ American teens at that time, so off we went to Oklahoma. Oklahoma I thought?? Yes, Oklahoma. I was disappointed and a little anxious, but committed to go anyway. That same youth pastor had me convinced that their were spiders the size of dinner plates everywhere! And I do NOT like spiders. Well, it turns out that God had big plans with that trip. We eventually made many, many trips out there to work at their camp and to support their ministries. Our oldest son even spent two years there as an intern. That time changed his life. I think he learned more of God’s Word there than he had most of his young life. He grew spiritually and grew in maturity as well. He was a sweet young man before the trip, but, that trip helped him to grow into the wonderful man that he is today. They loved on him and taught him so much. He worked hard for them and their ministries.
We have so many precious, funny memories from our time with them in OK. Being with them this weekend got me to thinking about reunions. Some reunions are not so blessed. I recall a couple of my high school reunions. They were like going back to high school, only the people looked more mature, but did not necessarily act any more mature than those high school days. My husband did not graduate with me, yet, everyone remembered him and had no clue as to who I was! Oh well, Jesus knows me and loves me!
Anyway, back to the blessed reunions. This past weekend was such a wonderfully blessed reunion. There were hugs, tears, joy, a moment of sorrow over the loss of a dear friend, loud laughter and lots of eating! I am so thankful for the time we had together and that they took time out of their busy schedule to stop and see us. I pray that it will not be so long before we can see them again.
I also talked to a dear friend yesterday who I miss SO much. We have so much history with their family as well. She and her husband have recently moved away and we miss them so much sometimes that I can hardly bear it. But it was so good to hear her voice and to spend a bit of time just talking and praying for each other. This made me think about the reunion that believers have to look forward to one day in eternity.
I do not know for sure what it will be like, or how we will recognize one another in Heaven, but I believe strongly that we will. I pray that my loved ones will be there to greet me as I enter to gates of Heaven. Of course the most beautiful joy and hope that we have as believers is that we will get to stand face to face with our Lord Jesus Christ. I can only imagine! I’m jumping out of my skin thinking about it. This led me to think about the “great cloud of witnesses” that we will meet when we finally enter those gates. I blows my mind to think that we will also stand face to face with the very people whom God chose to write down His Word to us! That just makes me want to shout! I cannot even fathom it with my little mind, but I look forward to it with joy. I often wonder what it will be like to meet Paul, Peter, Moses, Noah, Ruth, Mary, David, and so many others. WOW!
I know how much it means to me to spend time with folks who have moved away, or who we have not seen for a while. You know the feeling don’t you? It is as if we were never apart in some ways, and it is as if we’ve been apart for a lifetime in others. My friend used to tell me that one benefit of others moving away is that we’d always have someone to visit later, in new and special places. Well, the most wonderful place we look forward to as believers will be our future home with our Lord. We are not home yet people of faith! This is not our home. This is just a temporary place where we are press on toward the goal set before us until we see our Father in Heaven!
I don’t know about you, but I just love those blessed reunions with friends I have not seen for a long time. It just encourages me so much. Even a brief phone call from someone we love can lift our spirits, or a note or email. It is just knowing that we are loved and remembered that encourages us so much. I hope that today, I can throw off what hinders me and that I can encourage someone who needs a “blessed reunion”. Who do you need to reconnect with today? God bless you and thank you for reading.
