A Brand New World
My dad, a pastor for more than forty years, and I had been to a funeral. On the way home he said, “I want to talk with you about my plans for the future. Your mother doesn’t like to hear me talk about this so I want you to know.” As we talked that day I knew that he had no fear of death. “Blessed Assurance” was his favorite song, and he requested it be sung often in his church services. He was a beloved pastor; he and mother enjoyed almost 64 years of marriage before she went Home to be with the Lord in May of 1996. In those last years, Rev. A. H. “Buck” Griffin, a physically healthy man was diagnosed with dementia. Almost every time I went to visit he would say, “I don’t know why the good LORD doesn’t take me on home.” He was ready to go! I cannot say enough good things about Hospice where he was the last ten or twelve days of his 96 years here on earth. On the morning of his departure my son, David, and I went by to see him. We talked quietly as melodious sounds of “Blessed Assurance” filled the room. Approximately three hours later, when we walked back into his room the song was still playing. The angels had come for this man who had served God since he was 16 years old. Words of comfort flooded my mind and heart, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Blessed Assurance wasn’t just a song to my daddy; those words were life to him…reminding him again and again that “glory divine” awaited him. He lives today in a brand new world!
PRAYER:
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Teach us, Holy Spirit to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let Your work be shown to us and Your glorious power to our children. Let Your favor be upon us and establish the work of our hands. Father, we are looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is our God. You will wipe away every tear from every eye and death shall be no more! O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!”
Scripture References: Psalm 90; Hebrew 11:10, 1 Corinthians 15; Revelation 21.