gratiarumactio
Whether its in Latin, Spanish, French or plain old English, giving thanks is essential to the believer’s walk in faith. Sometimes, I have to remind myself, that despite the storms, the rain and the “ugh” feeling, God is there with me and I need to thank Him. Not for the circumstance, but walking with me through it all. Recently, it’s been the death of my brother who passed away in his sleep. We all wonder, “when’s my time?”
And then there are those who are filled with denial thinking that “my time” is not a conscious thought because ushering death out of sight is much easier than sitting with the memories of our loved one. It sobers us and confronts us with our mortality.
We are made in God’s image, that human part. But nothing prepares us for death because things are never the same as what was before. One day it will be “my time”, but until then, I need to live. And part of that living, is being thankful that I am.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
What will we experience when we cross into eternity? For some there will be screams because hell is a real place. For those of us who are believers, it will be glorious to be in the Lord’s presence forever. Getting excited about eternity is that reality for me.
When the souls are counted, when we are gathered together in His presence, we will know that what mattered most in our lives was love. The love that expresses, was given and received and even fought for and that Christ died for. It is this Agape love that we inherit when we become children of God; not the watered-down, cultural half-life that impoverishes us. Maybe if we spent more time with Jesus, imagined heaven and loved others, we just might become a better person and used our time we have remaining on this earth to make a difference. Our death would not be in vain.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16