I remember when my dad was in the
last couple months of cancer we were sitting at the kitchen table at my parent’s
home talking about many things. The
conversation led to Daddy’s probable crossing over to Heaven. I remembered feeling such peace from God
during this conversation and was surprised at how easily this subject
flowed. I asked Daddy if he was scared
and he said that he had no anxiety about having to leave this earth because he
knew God would tenderly and faithfully take care of Mother and the rest of
us. He said that any anxiety he was
experiencing was when he considered how it would happen at the end. He said that his prayers included comfort in
this area.
When I read this passage this
morning it struck me that Jesus must have had the same anxieties. It is written that He went to pray and as He
prayed Moses and Elijah came, and they discussed how His departure was going to
happen. Did Jesus lay awake nervous and anxious on many nights maybe like my
Dad? Did the nights drag by as He
rehearsed the end in His mind? Did Jesus’
worries about leaving His family haunt Him on occasions? Did the same prayer tumble from my dad's mouth as the words of our Lord? We often lose sight that Jesus was human with
human emotions and anxieties. The New
Testament is full of verses of Jesus retreating to prayer, withdrawing to
prayer and asking for prayer. This tells
me that He struggled, feared and needed the same comfort we need today.
Jesus experienced Hebrews 12:1
before it was ever written. ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders…and run
with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…Consider him who endured such opposition
from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary, and lose heart.’ Hebrew
12:1-3. I can’t help but imagine that
during Daddy’s similar prayers about the end, God sending down spiritually powerful people
from the past. I can envision Daddy
being surrounded by his mother and dad discussing the glorious splendor he will
witness the second his heart beats in heaven instead of on earth. I thank God for this vision this morning as
it is another gift for the heart.
No matter what you face today,
take it to God in prayer. Who knows? Maybe a great cloud of witnesses from Heaven
itself will descend upon you during your prayers.
‘…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ Matthew
6:10.
1 comment:
Thank you. I cannot help but reflect on the passing of both my parents and how I am sure God's heavenly host must have ministered to them. We were with our mother at the time and can testify that her last thoughts were of Him and making sure her children and grandchildren would one day meet her in heaven. Thanks again for your thoughts this morning.
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