After getting the kids out the door to school this morning, my next goal was to spend some time with the Lord in His word. I kid you not, as they were pulling out of the driveway, the devil started attacking me! He put Laken on my mind, and I started feeling sad. (for those of you that don’t know, that is my 8 yr old daughter I lost in 2008 in a tragic golf cart accident) I’ve been missing her a lot lately and the devil knows that and he will use whatever he can to destroy us! I try to practice what I preach, so I immediately prayed that the Lord would speak to me through His word and help me not to be depressed and help me to be strong and fight the devil off. I opened my bible and then my emails. I get a few devotionals each day from some senior pastors with television ministries, which I’m sure you’re familiar with. One of them comes from Dr. Charles Stanley with In Touch Ministries. I will be using some information from his devotional page that was written by another senior pastor today. I know that the Lord placed it right in my lap to lift my spirits and replace my sadness with joy this morning. It simply reminded me of one of His promises to us as believers. The title was “Will we see our loved ones in Heaven?” Now, I already knew the answer to this, but I serve a loving God that gives peace and comfort to His children! So I want to share with you what He comforted me with this morning that just turned my frown upside down and helped dull my pain. I hope you can find as much comfort in it as I did!
So the answer to this question is: in one word YES!…in 2 words FOR SURE!…and in 5 words YOU CAN COUNT ON IT! Senior pastor Colin Smith (UnlockingTheBible.org) shares 7 scriptures that will help those that wonder if they will be reunited with their believing loved ones in Heaven. All of these point to us knowing each other in the resurrection, and some of them point to believers knowing one another immediately after death. 1. David & his son- 2 Samuel 12:23 David lost his infant son and in this verse he is comforted that he will go to him (see him) in Heaven. 2. Abraham–father of Issac–grandfather of Jacob– Matthew 8:11 This verse tells us that Abraham enjoys the company of his son and his grandson in Heaven and that Jacob enjoys the company of his father and his grandfather in the kingdom of Heaven. 3. Jesus and the disciples Matthew 26:29 During the Last Supper on earth, Jesus told the disciples that it would be their last meal together until they ate and drank again in Heaven…in His Father’s kingdom. Peter, James, and John and the others, will be named and known in Heaven just as clearly as they were named and known on earth. 4. Moses and Elijah Matthew 17:3, Revelation 6:9 ” When the glory of Jesus was revealed in the transfiguration, we are told that “Moses & Elijah” appeared to the disciples as they (Moses & Elijah) talked to Jesus. They didn’t have their resurrected body yet, but their souls were visible and recognizable/known. That tells us a lot about the conscious joy of fellowship that believers share immediately after death in the presence of the Lord. They weren’t only visible and known, but they were able to engage in conversation. 5. The gathered souls in Heaven Hebrews 12:23 “the spirits of righteous people made perfect” AKA the souls of believers in the presence of Jesus. Right now, the spirits of the righteous made perfect, are assembled/gathered in Heaven. (gathered means community & community means relationship) 6. Paul & the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 2:19 Paul makes it clear that the believers he loved on earth will be his joy in Heaven. He says “for what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you (saved loved ones) in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” When Paul says this he clearly anticipates that relationships formed on earth will continue in Heaven. 7. The reunion of believing loved ones 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Here, Paul is writing to believers that grieve the loss of a loved one and offers them comfort. “We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (them refers to believing loved ones who are now in the presence of the Lord) And in verse 18, Paul instructs us to “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
We are told to comfort one another. God Is Our Comforter! 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our affliction/tribulation, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction/tribulation, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. God is the only one that can give any of us the peace and comfort that we need! He has assigned me, His servant, the task of passing on this good news. He has also given me much mercy and comfort during times of affliction and tribulation that I’ve experienced throughout my life. He tells us to comfort one another. I have experienced many things of which I’ve already shared with you in prior posts. I am more than willing to help anyone who may be experiencing some of the same things that I’ve been through by talking with you or just listening to you. I thank God for the comfort He has given me and I would love to be able to share that comfort with anyone in need!