Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
I look and see my mortality. Now don’t think for a moment this is one of those “Debbie Downer” stories. In fact, in a way, it might be the best news you will hear all day, all week, well, for always. So, I am sixty-eight years old. I know, I can’t believe it either. And all around me are signs that I am mortal. Remember that—all of us are mortal. I have been at my present position as a pastor for 22 years. I came to the church I serve in 2000 when I was 46 years old. I must have dozed off because just like that, 22 years of life have ticked off the calendar. My children are married, I have eight grandchildren and Judy and I have now been married almost 46 years. And the best part? It has been, and is, a great ride.
But then I did the math. When, and if, the next 20 years tick off the clock called life, I will be 88 years old. I find that astounding. We Taylor boys don’t have a real good track record when it comes to longevity. Three of my four brothers, all older than me, have already moved to heaven. Our clocks are ticking, and we don’t know when the last tick will come. It is a sobering thought. But stay with me.
I live my life by the calendar. I speak to my church every Sunday and some Wednesdays. It seems I no more finish one message before it is time to deliver the next. The weeks fly by. Every first of the month I speak on the radio on a local program called “The Baptist Hour.” My tag line is, “Can you believe another month has come and gone?” And the answer each month is, “No, I really can’t.” I remember on the first of February, after a speedy January, I made a joke about it being Christmas before we know it. Well, we just passed April 1st which means 25% of this new year is in the rearview mirror. Time flies by. It is a sobering thought. But stay with me.
Part of “The Baptist Hour” is the reading of the funeral arrangements of those who recently died. Invariably there are several, often more than a few. I’m learning that too often the names being read belong to people my age or younger. Recently an acquaintance in our small town suddenly died—a massive heart attack. He was younger than me. That really caused me to stop and ponder. It was a sobering thought. But stay with me.
Here’s what I am learning. Time is relative. We are eternal beings made and destined to spend forever somewhere. That destination doesn’t depend on good or bad, church or no church, religion or not. Does that surprise you? You see, heaven isn’t for good people and hell isn’t for bad people. No, where we spend eternity is about forgiveness of sin and that forgiveness is a free gift from God to anyone…anyone…who asks. I believe faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven. I know that sounds narrow but when you consider that God invites everyone to the party—well, it is pretty broad. We read in the Bible that the payment for sin is death and radically Jesus came for one purpose—to willingly die and pay that price.
So, if we are eternal beings and if we place our trust, our faith in this one of a kind, God-man named Jesus, that means that when we die, we can spend eternity in this place called heaven. When Jesus said that if anyone would believe in Him, they would never die—that’s what He meant. And then He closes with that all important question, “Do you believe this?”
With Jesus in the equation, death isn’t the end, it is a beginning. That might sound wacky to you. However, before you check it out, I challenge you to check it out. Get a copy of the Bible and read the four different accounts or stories about Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You might find yourself intrigued and amazed.
I read a true story yesterday about a man’s perception of his morality. This guy happened to be a minister and he went to the doctor and got some sobering news. He was terminally ill with no chance of recovery. The doctor told him he had about a year to live. He left the doctor’s office and went to one of his favorite spots—you know, to kinda take it in. Now, allow me to let the man tell his story. “I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God’s own poetry to my soul. And I said, ‘I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea.’”
Wow…what wonderfully strong words. If this whole God story is true, and I honestly believe it is, then people who trust that Jesus is the path to God and heaven, will outlive the mountains and the rivers. We may change addresses, but we will live forever. I know this is probably a different kind of story than we usually share together, but I hope it will make us think about what happens next. For myself and so many others, it makes all the sense in the world—and beyond. I’m grateful for the eternal part but I also love the part of the story that says He is with me now—hot mess world and all. I can rest in Him and trust in Him because, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 