CHRIST TO TERRI: WELCOME HOME
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
"Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34
No more pain. No more misery. No more lingering. No more tussle. Only peace and love — eternal.
Terri Shiavo’s mother related that her daughter was a committed Christian. Even when her husband, Michael, derided her faith, Terri continued to remain firm in her allegiance to God.
When Terri would leave home for worship, Michael would at times call out snidely, "Say a prayer for me." No doubt Terri did pray for her husband. Terri was a Christian to the close.
Now she’s slipped away from this earthly existence. Into what? Into heaven. Welcomed by whom? Christ Jesus, her Savior and King.
"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:8
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." I Corinthians 2:9
This life is a probationary period by which we can live for self or the Savior. Each has his or her own free will by which to make earthly and eternal choices. According to the Bible, each mortal will be held accountable for his and her life. We will all appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
"Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20
Sometimes we become so glued to this existence that we fool ourselves into thinking this is it. This is the all-in-all. This is what we are here for. Yet that is but an illusion. Truth confronts us each day with the facts. The daily newspaper serves as God’s Word indirectly in that it prints the obituaries. That listing alone should remind us that we are here, then gone. We are not residents of the planet forever.
For those who have discovered salvation in Christ, they have His presence in this life as well as the hope of seeing Him personally upon the last breath. When Stephen was stoned, according to the Acts of the Apostles, his spirit left his body. As he transferred from this existence to the next, he saw Christ standing up to greet him home to heaven. That is the promise offered every believer.
Christians recently celebrated Eastertide. That included of course Good Friday’s holy sacrifice upon Calvary. There the sinless One gave Himself in our sinful stead in order that we may know saving grace. He took our place in order to satisfy the justice of eternity.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:l6
Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25
Terri is no longer lingering between life and death. She is residing in life everlasting with the One who redeemed her repentant soul. So is the promise to every individual who comes contritely to the feet of Jesus, confessing sins, promising to live for Jesus and then walking the walk.
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." II Corinthians 5:1
"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11
"This is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life." I John 2:25
As we intercede for Terri’s family in sorrow due to her passing, let us also envision Terri released from suffering into the forever goodness of God. She is there. She has passed over into the gracious embrace of the Lord.
Angels have welcomed her home. Believers who have gone before us have called out her name. She’s with her heavenly kin washed in the blood of the Lamb.
"He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Galatians 6:8
Jesus said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. . ." John 10:27-28
Terri has answered to His voice. She is at home — for good, forever.
"Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matthew 25:34
No more pain. No more misery. No more lingering. No more tussle. Only peace and love — eternal.
Terri Shiavo’s mother related that her daughter was a committed Christian. Even when her husband, Michael, derided her faith, Terri continued to remain firm in her allegiance to God.
When Terri would leave home for worship, Michael would at times call out snidely, "Say a prayer for me." No doubt Terri did pray for her husband. Terri was a Christian to the close.
Now she’s slipped away from this earthly existence. Into what? Into heaven. Welcomed by whom? Christ Jesus, her Savior and King.
"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:8
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." I Corinthians 2:9
This life is a probationary period by which we can live for self or the Savior. Each has his or her own free will by which to make earthly and eternal choices. According to the Bible, each mortal will be held accountable for his and her life. We will all appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
"Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20
Sometimes we become so glued to this existence that we fool ourselves into thinking this is it. This is the all-in-all. This is what we are here for. Yet that is but an illusion. Truth confronts us each day with the facts. The daily newspaper serves as God’s Word indirectly in that it prints the obituaries. That listing alone should remind us that we are here, then gone. We are not residents of the planet forever.
For those who have discovered salvation in Christ, they have His presence in this life as well as the hope of seeing Him personally upon the last breath. When Stephen was stoned, according to the Acts of the Apostles, his spirit left his body. As he transferred from this existence to the next, he saw Christ standing up to greet him home to heaven. That is the promise offered every believer.
Christians recently celebrated Eastertide. That included of course Good Friday’s holy sacrifice upon Calvary. There the sinless One gave Himself in our sinful stead in order that we may know saving grace. He took our place in order to satisfy the justice of eternity.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:l6
Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25
Terri is no longer lingering between life and death. She is residing in life everlasting with the One who redeemed her repentant soul. So is the promise to every individual who comes contritely to the feet of Jesus, confessing sins, promising to live for Jesus and then walking the walk.
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." II Corinthians 5:1
"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11
"This is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life." I John 2:25
As we intercede for Terri’s family in sorrow due to her passing, let us also envision Terri released from suffering into the forever goodness of God. She is there. She has passed over into the gracious embrace of the Lord.
Angels have welcomed her home. Believers who have gone before us have called out her name. She’s with her heavenly kin washed in the blood of the Lamb.
"He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." Galatians 6:8
Jesus said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. . ." John 10:27-28
Terri has answered to His voice. She is at home — for good, forever.
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