See you in the morning

        "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.  And He who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold I am making all things new.'  Also He said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Rev.21:4-5)
         "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
         "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:9)
         Oh what sweet words to hear from the lips of the Savior--words of Life.  Real, eternal, glorious, abundant, resurrection Life.
        How thankful I am for Jesus today--for all He is, for all He did for us, for all He's promised us, for all He's given to us.  His death for our sins.  His grace and forgiveness.  His mercy.  His love.  His righteousness.  His joy.  His hope.  His Word.  His promises.  His complete and utter defeat of sin and death.  His resurrection to new life.
          Yes, Lord, we answer with Mary that "We believe this."  We believe...even through tears.  Even through confusion.  Even through sorrow over the death of those we love...but that You love far, far more.  Because You live, we know, know, know that our dearest, sweet Lynda will live.  Because You live, we know that wise, gentle Dickson will live.
         Because You live, we know that our every loved one in Christ who has gone on to heaven,  they live right at this moment.  They are more alive today than any of us who still reside in these "shadowlands" can even imagine.  Even as we weep over missing them here, they rejoice there.  They see as we are all meant to see.  They are experiencing wonders that we cannot begin to comprehend.  They see You face to face and hear You saying to them "Well done, my good and faithful servant."  They "laugh on glory's side"--all the pain of cancer vanished.  All the harshness and hardship of this often cold, dark world, long forgotten.
       "Death is swallowed up in victory," says Paul in I Cor.15:54.  Oh how I love that promise.  Like when we wake up from a really horrible nightmare.  Have you ever done that?  Perhaps dreamed that something terrible has happened--perhaps all your family has been killed--when suddenly you wake up and realize, stunned beyond words, that it was all a terrible dream.  You want to weep for joy and astonishment.  Such an extraordinarily joyful moment, and now your regular old life seems infused with far, far greater preciousness and wonder and joy.  Those people you had taken for granted just the night before, they've suddenly become ever more dear to you.  They are still here, you think, amazed and with sudden and overflowing gratitude.  Death has become swallowed up in victory.  
        Yet that is simply a tiny hint, a whiff of the victory over death that King Jesus has given us.  And that is merely the teeniest glimpse into the wondrous and beautiful reality that our dear Lynda and Dickson and so many, many more loved ones are experiencing right this moment.  Their death has been swallowed up in victory and they dance and laugh and sing on glory's side.  Praise You, Jesus praise You!
        I've said it so many times before, but when our loved ones go to heaven it's so true--we feel deep pain in our hearts and yet at the very same time have a song--a glorious, joyful song--in our souls.  Thank You for the song of redemption You've put in our souls, Lord Jesus.  And thank You that those we love who are no longer on this earth are alive, fully alive, with You, singing that song at the top of their lungs.
         One of my favorite stories comes from Joni Eareckson Tada who said she's often thought about what she'd like on her tombstone.  Here are her words: "When I was little, just growing up, when it was time for the family to go to bed and the lights would be turned out, we would hear--called from around the house--'See you in the morning!  See you in the morning!'  I would say that to my sisters as I went off to sleep.  'See you in the morning.'  I think I might like that on my tombstone: 'I'll see you in the morning.'"
          Precious Lynda and dear Dickson, we will see you in the morning.  Thank You for your faithfulness here on this earth.  Thank You for your extraordinary love and wisdom and kindness.  Lynda, we have one less prayer warrior on this earth, so we will try all the harder to pray and love and encourage and give as relentlessly as you did.  Thank You for showing us all how it's possible to finish well and to run all the way to the finish line with your eyes glued on Jesus and your arms pumping hard to greet the Savior you loved so well, so incredibly well.
          We will see you in the morning.  And until then, we will keep running our race all the way to the end, all by His grace, all for His glory.
         To God--our Savior, Redeemer, and Resurrection Lord--be all the glory.