For the love of a son…
Filed in General |
Journal,
Campbell Creek Cemetery is such a beautiful cemetery. It is nestled in the piney hills of Sharp with two majestic cedar trees right in its center. Beneath those trees are some of the oldest graves in the cemetery, including some of my fore-bearers.
Yesterday we went to Campbell Creek to put flowers on our son David Lynn’s grave, and also on my dad’s and mom’s graves. It was David’s birthday. He would have been 41 years old yesterday. Two of my sisters met us there, Julia and Bonnie. Bertie was unable to meet with us.
At the center of the picture is David’s headstone with the yellow flowers. To the left is my dad’s grave, and to the right is my grandparents. You can’t see them very well, but to the right of my grandparents headstones are the headstones of my great-grandparents. (This picture was taken earlier in the year.)
These visits to Campbell Creek are quiet moments of reflection for us. Actually David was nine months old when he went to be with the Lord. 
But he always rests in mama’s and daddy’s hearts. On his headstone we have written, ‘Safe in the arms of Jesus.’ And we are fully assured that one day we will get to see him again.
That’s why I love the old ‘That Glad Reunion Day’ song. Couldn’t find the actual singing, but here’s the organ music:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=F4aUpbC3Tzs
And here are the lyrics….
There will be a happy meeting in Heaven, I know
When we see the many loved ones we’ve known here below
Gathered on that blessed hilltop with hearts all aglow
That will be a glad reunion day.
A glad day, a wonderful day,
A glad day, a glorious day
There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay
That will be a glad reunion day.
When we live a million years in that wonderful place
Basking in the love of Jesus, beholding His face
It will seem but just a moment of praising His grace
That will be a glad reunion day.
A glad day, a wonderful day,
A glad day, a glorious day
There with all the holy angels and loved ones to stay
That will be a glad reunion day.
God also has a Son of His love…
Yes, that babe born in Bethlehem so many ages ago was God’s very own Son. It was the son of His love that made it possible for all of God’s children to come home. Do you suppose that our heavenly Father is longing to see all His children?
I believe so. In fact I believe that all of heaven and all of creation is longing for all of God’s children to come home. Listen to what the apostle said:
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Rm8:16-21 nasb)
The Bible teaches that every time one of these lost children of God is found, the very heavens rejoice. Jesus said, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Lk15:7)
God places a bit of heaven in our hearts…
The apostle Paul said that God’s Spirit actually testifies (bears witness) to our spirit that we are children of God.
The apostle John said,
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God … Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (Cf. 1Jn3:1.2)
When Paul speaks of this heavenly testimony, he explains in another place that this testimony includes both a ’seal’ and a ‘presence’. The seal says, ‘This child is Mine.’ It speaks of God’s possession. The presence is a bit of heaven that is placed in our hearts. And this is why we all get homesick at times. Paul says that we long for our home above. 
God says to ask Him about things to come…
God spoke to the prophet Isaiah, saying, “Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.” (Is45:11)
The Lord was instructing the prophet concerning the finished work of the cross in that He would have sons and daughters who would be birthed from heaven. (Keep in mind that the term sons is generic in that it includes both sons and daughters.)
The apostle Paul speaks from this in saying,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph2:8-10)
There is much more to be said about these sons and daughters. Perhaps the one other thing I would like to pass on is how the apostolic writer states how God wishes to share with us things concerning our future. Paul summed it this way, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that GOd has prepared for those who love Him. For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” (1Co2:9,10)
OK, let me try to find a stopping place. One more thing…
I have an invitation to minister at a Wesleyan Church.
Dave and Carol Henry are precious friends. They pastor Simm’s Weslayan Church out of Pollock. It is at their request that I minister at the Church on Sunday morning, December 23, 2007. They will be with family in Michigan. 
What an honor. It says a lot when a local pastor will invite another local pastor to fill in at his pulpit. But our friendship goes back a number of years. Actually Nathan has ministered for them on various occasions.
Thanks for the invite Dave and Carol. Have a great time with your family in Michigan. And don’t worry about the home church. I only have one message anyway. Never learned how to preach much of anything else except, ‘Jesus loves me, this I know.’
Here’s an architectual model of their forthcoming church sanctuary.
Congrats. Look forward to seeing its completion.
Hmmmmmm. Something we at Christian Challenge need to be thinking about.
Well, its time to close down for the evening. We’ve had a full day.
Much love coming your way,
Buddy
