"Return"

There is a silent reason,

I don’t go see his grave,

It’s not because it’s far away,

No thanks for what he gave.

Not because I’m busy,

Or do not care to cry,

And not because we could not,

Ever say good-bye.

It’s not because I’m angry,

Or even very sad,

Or when I think about him,

Start feeling really bad.

No, it’s just this one thing only,

And one thing alone,

Makes a graveside visit,

Something I rarely own.

It’s because he isn’t there,

Though there his name you’ll see,

The year his mother birthed him,

And the one that he left me.

But I know ‘neath that headstone,

Remains are in a box,

But his spirit flew away,

When his heartbeat stopped.

The outer shell is in the ground,

But who he was is gone,

Flown to enjoy Jesus,

And will till breaking dawn,

Of sunrise on that last day,

When Jesus will return,

And all are gathered to Him,

And what is left will burn.

So, Dad, one day I’ll see you,

Look forward to just when,

The dead in Christ will rise up,

When Jesus comes again.

“Yes, we are fully confident and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8, NLT)

At home with the Lord means we have died and left this life. We have left our earthly bodies behind, and the essence of who we are as human beings has gone to be with Jesus. That is, if we have given our lives to Him here. I know there is risk involved, if we take seriously what the Bible says about it. But there does not have to be. In fact Paul says he is fully confident about it. Yes, but Paul was a super-saint, right? Special and blessed and powerful, yes, all those things. But Paul’s confidence was not based upon how much God used Him after he was saved. It was based on the grace God gave him when he was saved. That’s what gives any of us confidence about our own death or anyone else’s who belongs to the Lord. It’s the only real comfort when a loved one dies. And it’s the greatest hope when threatened by the prospect of anything that could end our earthly journey. We go home.

Art by Jack Sorenson, jacksorensonfineart.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.