It is in the afternoon on a windy, cold, and rainy day. I just had an overwhelming urge to pick up my not so expensive ink pen and jot down the thoughts that are racing through my mind. I just ran back to my car after mailing a get-well card to a dear friend that is quite ill. I am sitting here thinking about some of the things that life brings our way: happiness, sadness, and in the case of my friend, an illness that may soon take his life.
I have become closer to him in the past few months than in years gone by. This friend has the same hair color and hairline as me. His blue eyes are not as sharp as they once were, and his muscles are lacking strength, because of the effects that aging and his illness have had on his body.
My friend is almost fourteen years my senior and is suffering from an ailment that was brought on by his past lifestyle. If he could change things and do them over, I’m sure that he would. With every beat of his heart and breath that he takes he thanks God for another day. His suffering reminds me of a scripture in the Bible pertaining to our physical body.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17), “Do you not know that you are the temple of God temple of God temple of God
It is like peering into a mirror and seeing me when I look into his face—a reflection that is most familiar. His chubby belly hangs over his belt and causes his shirt to gap between the buttons, just like my shirt does on me. Comments that I hear him say echo some of the statements that I have spoken; and his thoughts are ones that I have entertained.
I have heard him speak more about God the past few months than ever before. I truly believe that my friend has received a wonderful gift from God—the gift of life. Not that his health has improved, but his soul now has life. I believe he has been born again. I’ve heard people put it this way: “I’ve seen the light!” relating to sins being forgiven in their life through Jesus Christ.
The emails that my friend frequently sends me have a certain zest to them—words that now express a different attitude about life, and yes, even death. I do not sense a fear of the unknown in the words he uses, but rather an acceptance of the inevitable and a feeling of peace of what is to come. He expresses hope, whereas, a few months ago he had none. Things have definitely changed.
Every person that is born has an appointment with destiny. There is no way to escape the inevitable providence that awaits us. We needn’t fear the unknown when we know Jesus as our personal Savior. His perfect love casts out all fear. This is the peace that my friend now has.
(Hebrews 9:27-28), “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” vs.28 “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
At this moment there is a feeling of finality closing in around me and I find it hard to swallow, because of the lump in throat. Though my eyes are welling up with tears I must realize that one day my friend will no longer be with us. No more will I be able to send him e-mails or receive his; the ones he calls, “brain dust”—the funny ones, the serious ones, and yes, those that are sent just because.
I will not be able to pick up the telephone to call him and just shoot the breeze, for he will have closed his eyes for the last time on earth; saying goodbye to this life. But as he opens his eyes again he will find himself in a beautiful land not made with hands; where the streets are of purest gold—a place where he will call home, forever—heaven.
There will be no more pain and suffering. My friend will be reunited with loved ones that have gone on before him. The angels of God will be rejoicing, because another child of God has come home. Though all of these things are wonderful, he will see outstretched hands having been pierced-through with large nails, taking hold of his hands, and Jesus saying softly, “Enter into the joy of your Lord. Welcome home my son.”
Though I can hardly see to continue writing, because of the tears, the hope that I possess is the same hope that my friend has. This God-given hope gives both of us an assurance that we will surely see each other again, because we serve the same master. I am blessed to have a friend like my big brother. I love you brother!
I wrote the above writing on January 11, 2001 and sent it to my brother, while he was still living. He recently passed away in September, 2011, at the age of seventy-nine. He is certainly missed. I am thankful for the hope that I will see him again one day; believing that he is in heaven with Jesus, without pain.
(2 Corinthians 5:6-8), “So we are always confident, knowing that while se are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” vs.7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” vs.8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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