Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s too cold to spend my mornings on the front porch these days, but not too cold to step outside to see how God has painted this new day. As I sat in the Presence of the Living God I thanked Him for all things new…a new sunrise…a new day…a new chance to Serve…a new Word for such a time as this….it was a long list of new things. But along with those new things I thanked Him for in my own life, I thanked Him for the New that several of my friends are a part of today….friends that have drawn their last breath here on earth but are now in the New of Eternity. The sting of death isn’t easy for family and friends to endure, that’s for sure. But behind the tears of mourning, there is a Heavenly Celebration of the New Life for those who Know and Love Jesus Christ. Without the Promise of a New Beginning, life would be meaningless for us all and the sting of death unbearable..but with Jesus, the Future is New and Bright and Beautiful forever and ever, for those who Believe! Isn’t that the way you look at death too?

Mourning is a natural process and it can’t be rushed along. Parting from a loved one is excruciatingly painful and the emptiness they leave behind is felt forever. There is no right or wrong way to mourn. In the days of Moses, the Israelites had a 30 day mourning period. In the Jewish culture, loved ones are buried the same day they die – in Bible times there was a 7-day mourning ritual that sometimes included “mourning musicians” to help in the process and a tearing of their clothes to express their agony. Back in the day, widows were required to wear black for two years as a sign of respect for their dead husband and to let the world know she was off-limits until the time of mourning had ended. Some funeral homes employ a nurse to be present during a funeral service to assist the emotional loved ones with medical attention for their hysterical reaction to death. There is no right or wrong. But no matter what the mourning looks like or what kind of “rituals” people practice, it doesn’t matter how long it takes the human Heart to heal, there is a Celebration in Heaven for those who Know and Loved Jesus Christ that no amount of earthly mourning can dim. Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

We often hear “may they rest in peace” and we see R.I.P. on almost every headstone in the graveyard, but not everybody will be resting in peace. There is Eternity waiting for each one of us and it won’t a dormant, “peaceful,” lifeless, forever the way some people think. For those who Trust in Jesus, the Bible says “No eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him” and I celebrate for my friends and loved ones who now see and hear what they longed for in this life. For those who don’t Trust in Jesus, the future isn’t bright, and they’ll be gnashing their teeth in torment forever. Now that’s something to mourn! For those who don’t put their Trust in Jesus, this world…this life…is as good as it gets for them. But for all the rest of us, death of the body is just the Beginning….our Victory only comes through death. Jesus struggled with death – just the idea of being beaten and crucified caused Him to sweat blood. But was His Father’s will for Jesus to die, and it’s His will for all the rest of us to die one day too! Death was the only way to achieve God’s Redemption Plan! Jesus had to die so that we could have Victory over sin…and each one of us has to die to Receive our Victory! Thank God for the Promise of Heaven for those who Believe!

The stakes are high and the Results everlasting which is what keeps Christians like me busy sharing the Truth that Saves with the world. I don’t want even one person to die without knowing the Truth! The ones to die without Trusting Jesus…now THAT’S something to mourn about – the others we Celebrate! There are no words for how blessed I am that everyone – my family members and my close friends – who have already gone before me Trusted in Jesus and they instantly entered into a Heavenly Celebration that will last forever! What joy and peace I have! Will I cry? Of course. Will I miss them? Absolutely! But you won’t find me wishing they were still here no matter how much it hurts on this side of Life. The day that they lived for is finally here and THAT’S something to celebrate through the pain!

Do you Know and Trust Jesus?

Are you absolutely sure of what your eternity will look like OR are you hoping just to rest in peace forever?

If you have doubts, I’m here to help. Don’t let even another minute pass until you find the Peace that leads to Victory.