We'll Meet Again

The picture is the view from my study yesterday morning. We had a late season snowfall that I wasn't expecting. It began shorty after I left the house to run but had all melted by mid-afternoon. I was originally supposed to preach a funeral yesterday morning but several things had come up and when I woke up in the morning I learned the funeral was being moved to Saturday morning. I told the family that I would not be able to join them, because I was already committed to preaching another person's funeral on Saturday. Both of the people who had died were long-time members of our congregation, and both of them were the source of very dear memories to our family. The family of the person whose funeral was moved from yesterday to today asked if I could write something for them that a family member could read as they laid the body of someone who was dearly loved to rest. Below are the words I wrote for them.

It has been my pleasure to have known Camelia for the entire time our family has lived in Dulce, nearly eight years. I have many memories of her. Memories from church, from visiting her in her home, and from visiting her in Pagosa. Last week Tuesday I was at the nursing home in Pagosa. I had an opportunity to visit with all the people from Dulce, except for Camelia. They told me that she was not feeling well. Like everyone else gathered today, I had no idea that I would not see her again.

L. told me that Camelia had a Bible in her room and she asked me to look at it and to prepare something to say this morning. Camelia’s Bible was arranged to be read over the course of one year. For each day of the year there were things written and if a person stuck to the plan they would begin on January 1st and finish the entire Bible on December 31st.  That is an ambitious plan, and I had no idea Camelia was working on reading through the Bible. 

On the page for today, April 24th, the reading includes Psalm 91, and I think several verses from that psalm are appropriate for us this morning. 

Psalm 91, verses 1 and 2 say “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”” 

The writer of the psalm knows something about God, and he believes what he knows. He knows that God can be trusted to protect those people who seek him. God will hold them and give them comfort. God will protect them. He knows that God does not play games with those who seek him. God makes promises, and God keeps his promises, all the time. 

Psalm 91 ends with these words from verses 14 through 16, “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him salvation.”

In the closing verses the writer does not use his own words but writes the words that God himself speaks. And the words God speaks are very, very good. They are promises to rescue and protect those people who turn to him, people who love him. God promises to be with them, to show them salvation. 

The words of the psalm find their full meaning in the person of the Lord Jesus. The writer of the psalm sought God as he understood him through the words of the Old Testament, the older part of the Bible. They are words that are intended to be fully understood as the end of the story was written in the New Testament, the part of the Bible that tells us about Jesus. 

The writer of the psalm mentions the need to be rescued from danger. The greatest danger facing every one of us is that of our life ending and our never having turned to Jesus, trusting in him to be our savior. The danger is very real, but the hope that is found in the promises of God that are filled in Jesus overcomes every last bit of that danger. 

At some point in her life Camelia turned towards Jesus and trusted in him. He became her refuge and fortress. He promised her salvation and I am certain that he kept that promise. We can gather today knowing that she is in the presence of her savior, and she’ll be there forever. 

None of us have perfect faith but people who turn and trust in Jesus have a perfect savior. He, and not anyone else, did everything needed to save us from eternal danger 

I didn’t get to see my friend Camelia last week, but I know that because I have faith in Jesus that a day is coming when I will see her again, and we will joyfully worship him together.  Our hearts may be heavy this morning but by faith in Jesus we can live each day with hope that will never fail. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.