A death in the family
Since my previous post, Mike was received into heaven. The operating term for his passing Saturday morning is/was shock, with the sense of anger leavening that. He was so young, had so much more to do, so much more ministry near and far. The treatments in the hospital were expected to restore him, not hasten his passing. How could this be? Beyond his immediate family, his ministry, his friends--once you met him you felt his friendliness--couldn't take in the fact that that life had ended.
On further reflection, his life has begun, entering into the eternality of eternal life. No more sin to deal with, no more disappointments to wrestle with, nor frustrations, Mike entered his rest. I have to admit to a certain envy, also, something I often feel when yet another believer passes from this life to that one. How I too yearn to be able to see the Savior face to face and worship His eternal grace as He deserves to receive it--with no sin between, no distractions, nothing but the fullness of His glorious grace.
Until then, as Paul commanded, my goal needs to be this: "to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord my labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58) realizing this: "Though our other nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. This slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16b-18).