“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
I simply could not believe my eyes! So I blinked a couple times, then moved in for a better look! But my eyes hadn’t deceived me because standing not 20 feet from me was an old friend from long ago. And I was about to catch up!
I was at a hobby store talking with a fellow friend and hobbyist about our hobby. Together we were awaiting another hobbyist to join us in our mutual hobby. Looking around at the same time I was talking, my eyes caught the sight of someone I remembered as an old friend. My conversation stopped because of the interruption, as I just HAD to get a better look to confirm.
As it turns out, it WAS him! Not only that, he was talking to the hobby store OWNER. It appeared that THEY were friends as well! Though a lot bigger than me, Dan was always the calm type. So I didn’t think anything about sneaking up behind him and thumping my hands on his broad shoulders. True to his nature as I remembered, and THANKFULLY, he didn’t spin around and take a swing at me. When he finally saw my smiling eyes, we moved in for a big hug, then caught up.
It was the second time that happened this last week. On Tuesday I saw an old friend from my sons’ high school days. They used to hang out together regularly at my house, but after graduation Josh had moved away. But he was apparently back now, His hair starting to turn gray. We caught up.
It doesn’t happen often, but when I see an old friend I haven’t seen in a long while, I immediately think of Heaven and this Bible verse. Because this verse is FILLED with hope and joy for my future! A future that INCLUDES Jesus Christ IN PERSON… along WITH my family and friends as well.
I love stopping along life’s hard way and considering that future REUNION DAY when we will be reunited. In fact, it is a GREAT way for me to get through the hard stuff here. Laying even a potential life of 100 years here on Earth, beside eternity, is a non-comparison. This verse gives me joy because THAT REAL and GENUINE joy will NEVER end!
God is a God of PROMISES. And He NEVER breaks them. He has promised that there IS a perfect place at HIS place, where love, joy, peace and contentment will NEVER go out of style. He has promised me and the world that reality, if we simply choose to join HIS family. Because I have been sharing Jesus for a LONG time, I know there will be some old friends and forgotten acquaintances there too! And we will rejoice together AS Friends and Family FOREVER!
Are YOU going to be there? If so, who are YOU looking forward to seeing?
