Happy – Sad

Emancipation had to be a feeling like none other to slaves who were lucky enough to be liberated, whether it occurred in ancient times or in the 1800’s in our own country. Imagine the wonderful emotion associated with being a slave for your entire life and then suddenly being freed.

Well that is what happened to one of my good friends last Friday afternoon. He died in Shands hospital about 1:30 PM and was freed by Jesus Christ. He had been suffering greatly from one of satan’s most insidious tortures, cancer, but now as Martin Luther King Jr. would say, he is “free at last” and is in the very presence of His Lord and Savior. He no doubt has a smile as big as Texas on his face and is overcome with unbridled joy at his liberation.

Midweek I will attend his funeral in Jacksonville and without question will shed some tears as I recall the many wonderful times we’ve had together in our Sunday school class, or quail hunting, or fishing, or flying in one of his planes, or whatever. I will miss his keen wit and his interesting analysis and slant on everything from business matters to world affairs.

I already miss him.

The tears I shed will be for myself this Wednesday. It really does not make sense to cry for him, because he is in a place where there is incomprehensible joy and happiness and where there can be no tears. I am happy for him and will try my best to focus on “his” happiness and celebrate his promotion, instead of lamenting “my” loss of a dear friend.

I trust he is scouting out all the good fishing spots in the crystal clear River of Life, so when it is my turn to be emancipated, he can guide me right to one of them and I can catch a nice Brook Trout with the first cast. It is odd how a funeral for a Christian can be both sad and joyous, is it not?

If you are not part of this family, won’t you join us today? Jesus is gently calling; answer His call while there is yet some time…

Revelation 21:1
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.