In my few years of life, I have lost quite a few friends to cancer, old age, other sickness, or sometimes just because they walked out of my life. The one thing that has hurt the most about any of those losses was the wonder. For so many of them, I had to wonder where they went, or, at the very least, where they would go. {And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:3}
After the latest death of a friend, it hit me that there was a chance I could keep my friends from that wonder, though I hope they know already. Even so, it might be nice for them to hear it again, and know that I know. {That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9}
Yes. I know!! I know where I will go once I leave the earth. {In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you John 14:2}
When I was very young, probably four or five, I was busy helping Mum with tomatoes. Now, I don't remember everything all that well, lets keep in mind, I was very young at the time. However, I do know that the conversation came around to whether or not I would see my family again when we all died. Mum explained to me that I was now old enough to make a decision. {Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3} It was rather easy at the time, because as a child, I had the faith of a child. Of course God was there. I was here, was I not? So what other way was it possible other than that God made me. Further more, I had been raised with my Father as a pastor, so I had heard many a Sunday sermon on the love of Christ, the death of Christ, and how to live for Christ. There in the basement of our home, with tomatoes around us, I said a prayer, and told the Lord that I believed He died for me, and that I wanted to be one of His children.
Over the years, I have rededicated my life to Him many times. See, at that time, I made a five year olds decision. Later, I needed to make a 10 year olds, a 15 year olds, a 20 year olds, etc. Now, I do not mean to say that I believe that I kept losing my Salvation. It is not that at all. In rededicating my life, I was just telling the Lord that, at that age I was, I still had a heart for Him and was still going to live my life for Him.
Where am I going? Where "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Like I said, though I hope I have never made it a secret, I wanted to make sure that, should I die tomorrow, none of my friends would suffer the pain I have in not knowing where a friend went.
{I am posting this same post on all my blogs. My 'hangout', Xanga, Blogger, LiveJounal, myspace, facebook, and homeschoolalumni}
God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Chorus
Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives,
all fear is gone;
Because I know
He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days
because He Lives!
Chorus
Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
And then one day,
I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and
I'll know He lives!
Chorus
Because He lives,
I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives,
all fear is gone;
Because I know
He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
