We Don't Belong Here Forever

Caleb was a friend of mine; he died Sunday night.  We played Ultimate Frisbee together at Auburn; he was good.  We went to church together in Auburn.  We ate at Cracker Barrel together twice; we both ordered chicken fried chicken both times.  He beat me at the peg game that sits on the tables at Cracker Barrel; he was good at that too.  I can't say that I knew Caleb extremely well, but I can say that he was an excellent teammate, a hard worker and a sincere lover of Jesus Christ.

I heard a song today that put Caleb's death in perspective for me.  Simply titled Heaven, Paul Wright says "we don't belong here forever. No, no, we don't belong here.  We'll be dancing, singing, bringing our praises and lifting our voices to Jesus.  They'll be no more crying, lying, or dying when you and I are in heaven."  I have to believe that God has placed each person on this earth for a very specific purpose.  People aren't "called home" too early.  People's lives don't get "cut short" as many of us sympathetically claim in times of unexpected tragedy.  God knows what he is doing; He calls us to be with him at exactly the right moment.  What a glorious moment that must be--the moment when crying, lying and dying cease and our eternity becomes dancing, singing, and bringing praises to the creator of the universe!

Eternity becomes heavy on my mind in times like this.  The thought of the afterlife being eternal  becomes, if only for a split second, tangible.  That is when my heart breaks.  So many will not experience dancing, and singing, and bringing praises to Jesus because they never knew him.  Fortunately, Caleb will experience that; in fact, he is right now, and I'm sure there's no place he'd rather be.

If you do not know Jesus Christ, I beg you to meet Him.  I don't want you to claim Him solely so that you will be in heaven for eternity.  Yes, that's part of it, but I want you to meet Christ because I can assure you that nothing else can hold a candle to the satisfaction found in Him.  Nothing else in all of creation that you could possibly lend your attention to will be able to satisfy you like Christ.  In Christ is where the only eternal satisfaction is found. Eternal peace.  Eternal paradise. If you could, just ask Caleb.

I will go to Caleb's funeral on Thursday.  He will be buried.  The sun will set.  Then it will rise again.  Life will come calling the day after Caleb is buried, and as long as there is life, there is hope.  As long as the sun rises again, there is hope that you too will be able to join Caleb as he dances, sings, and brings praises to Jesus.

So please, look to Jesus.  You don't have to look far, He's not hiding.  He's calling and waiting.

Please.