“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1

‘Where do these go? How can I help? Where do you want the coffee? Is it time yet? How do the chairs lineup? Should we start now?’ These, and many others, were questions asked of Katie and I as we were preparing for Easter. It was a whirlwind week as preparations had to be made, the church setup and torn down for different events. I felt more like a Martha than Mary, and confessed a desire to switch roles!

Years ago, when my father was the preacher, he would often ask ME to preach on Easter Sunday. With all the services and preparations, adding the word ‘preacher’ to the agenda can make for a mentally tough week. Asking ME to preached freed him up for interaction with people. But don’t get me wrong… I am not whining! When Easter comes, I feel like a Groom on wedding day!

If you have ever experienced a family wedding or a funeral you will know what I am talking about. All the preparations that lead up to the exact date and time on a calendar have a way of placing the bride and groom in a kind of fog. Relatives, friends and loved ones converge, seemingly all at the same time, allowing almost NO time to spend with any ONE person. When it is over and they are all gone, what remains is a memory, along with a wish that we could have spent more time together.

Holy Week (Easter Week) is is the single greatest event in the History of the world! It doesn’t even matter if you believe it or not, because it IS! All of us KNOW that we are sinners and not worthy of God’s love. But God saw the loss of His created ones as a disaster in need of repair. Taking the initiative. and out of His love, He came to US when we could not get up to HIM. Our debt was paid and we got a chance to set at the Head Table! If we wanted it!

As long as there are ticks on a watch and dates on a calendar, there will be sorrows for opportunities missed or regrets that something was not done. It is inevitable. But Jesus Christ, the one who LONGS for quality time with His beloved, gives us a single Biblical command that will help us prepare for the ULTIMATE, UNENDING gathering in Heaven… “Do not give up meeting together!” Hebrews 10:25.

Christians are family. And while we may not always see eye to eye, we ARE all part of the same part that matters to His Son… His Heart! When we all congregate together, we get to see, hear and experience just a little taste of His Love and Grace. One day, the experience will never end.. and there will be NO sorrow or regret for time lost. Heaven WILL be GREAT? Not just because Jesus will be there… but because YOU will too!