Dignity in Christ

There they sat, huddled close together in the back of church.
They shared a lifetime of love; a marriage with children and grandchildren.
She locked her arm in his and laid her head on his chest.
There she found such warmth, such protection, and such security.

She seemed like a little girl despite her eighty-six years.
Her memory was tainted by the cruelty of Alzheimer’s, but she remembered him.
That kind of love transcends disease; that kind of love holds on.
She rests in the embrace that says, you are known and I love you.

Dignity, made in God’s image.
Engraved in the palms of His Hands; never to be left or forsaken.
Dignity, a wife who vaguely resembled the young girl she once was.
Yet, she still encompassed all the memories and dreams they once shared.

She was known by him even though what he saw was far from what he remembered.
He could have listed her mistakes, her unkind words, and her out of character behavior.
That would be keeping a record of wrongs; so he loved, patiently, kindly, and selflessly.
He protected, trusted, hoped, and persevered.

Then, her Bridegroom called her home.
She would now be fully known.
She had seen a poor reflection in the mirror of this world.
She would now have a glorious face-to-face embrace in the arms of her Savior.

He will tell her everything she ever did.
He will look at her, washed clean by the water of His Word.
She is sprinkled with the blood He shed for her.
He will be recognized as Christ, her Lord; His Father is satisfied.

Every tear will be wiped away.
The fragrance that lingers is unmistakable; she knows that aroma.
She has smelled it wafting through the air in the strange world that was not her home.
She often went to the well of Living Water for a drink from that Life-giving stream.

She smells it now, stronger, and clearer.
She knows the smell of the One she worshiped in Spirit and Truth.
He tells her everything she ever did.
In Him, there is dignity, redemption, and righteousness.

He will join her, someday; for now he sits in church alone, without her on his arm.
He remembers her as the only one he ever loved; a gift from his Heavenly Father.
He loved her deeply.
He knows that when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

He has this Hope as an anchor for his soul, firm and secure.
Yes, I am coming soon.
Amen.
Come Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus finally came for him as well.
Ninety years on this earth; eight years without his beloved.
He is now home.
He suffers no longer; the body that betrayed him will one day be gloriously renewed.

Now there are two empty spaces.
Now there are those that mourn, but not as those without Hope.
The Hope that is an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure is what they cling to.
Those that knew him well, those he mentored, and those he loved will miss him greatly.

It seems like this thing we call life is over in the blink of an eye.
It seems to end so abruptly here.
To live here is to know that it is never Home.
To live here rightly, there must always be an eye on Heaven.

Nobody tells you when you get born here
How much you’ll come to love it
And how you’ll never belong here
So I call you my country
And I’ll be lonely for my home
And I wish that I could take you there with me

(taken from Land of My Sojourn, by Rich Mullins)

He did live well while he was here.
He did impact many as he was passing through.
He never did take his shoes off completely.
He knew he wasn’t staying.

He had a job to do; and he did it.
He stayed not a second longer than the Lord determined.
He will be with her again.
He will finally see his Lord.

There they are, arm in arm, walking with Him.
Walking with the One they served so well while they sojourned here.
In a blink of an eye, they will welcome more of their loved ones Home.

He finished well.
He was a good and faithful servant.
He is Home.
It was a life well lived.

Genesis 1:26,27; Isaiah 49:16; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Corinthians 13:7,12; John 4:29; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 21:4; John 7:38; John 4:23, 24; 1 Corinthians 13:10; Hebrews 6:19; Revelation 22:20, 21