Well, we watched the movie "I Can Only Imagine" tonight..... and here I am, should be sleeping but instead I'm clinging to a keyboard and contemplating every word. The past couple of weeks have been a little tough. It started with no apparent reason and then flash banged when a couple of folks passed away. One of the folks that went to be with Jesus, I don't really know. I claim that his brother is a fishing buddy of mine that just hasn't made it on a fishing trip with me yet. I hold on to that because it's nice to pull for the small town guy that makes it. Eric Church lost his brother and even though I know I don't know either of them, I feel like I do simply because they are from my wife's hometown. I share in the pain that Eric must have in the loss of his brother. Then at the beginning of this week a brother and sister duo that I have known and been friends with for literally as long as I can remember lost their dad. With every loss I reflect on my mom and dad. Then I spiral to grandparents. Then eventually it always ends up back in second grade when I lost one of my sisters, and all the emotions become a whirlwind and I'm pretty much paralyzed and just pretty much a worthless mess.
I've also been having some spiritual moments this week. I'm excited to see what growth comes from my home church that holds a special place in my heart. I'm excited for those that passed on to Glory, because of what they are encountering. There are so many things pounding around that I can hardly keep track of them. And just as I had gotten to a low point, God has put people, articles and media in my path to lift me back up again.
See, I Can Only Imagine was not just any song. The music of Mercy Me crossed lines on the Charts. It was revolutionary. Folks that had not wanted to hear the Gospel, heard it! Some for the first time and they looked deeper into it. God moved. People were affected. All by one song. One God inspired piece of music. I remember when I had my moment of coming back to God, I stood in my driveway and played several Christian songs, over and over and over..... I Can Only Imagine was one of them. I sang as loud as I could and I'm sure what neighbors we had at the time thought I had lost it all, when I was really right in the middle of re-finding it all. This was a time that I found myself constantly in the Bible and listening to preachers on the radio. One of the most influential preachings I heard was the story about the line of people that preached and influenced another preacher that eventually influenced Billy Graham. This was also the sermon where I first heard about where Billy Graham had to make a decision. He came to a point where he either had to believe the Bible to be TRUE or he had to walk away, he couldn't do both. So he Believed!
As we traverse this series of Earthly Deaths, we are reminded of Everlasting Life. " For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not parish but will have EVERLASTING LIFE". "God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him".
Some day we will not have to imagine the Glory. Some day we will be awe stricken at the appearance of Jesus. We will be amazed by all the glorious wonders of Heaven. We will see a Kingdom built not by human hands. One day we will bow before our mighty King and rejoice with the Saints that have joined Him before us. Until then we are called to celebrate the name of Jesus, spread His Gospel, and be in the world and not of it. Tonight, even though I have a sad heart.... I also have a joyous heart! I am Praising God for the influences in my life. I am Praising God for the celebration I know people are encountering. I'm Praising God for my Family, my Church Family, and the Grace that has granted me the gift of Eternal Life. A gift I am not worthy to receive, but God came as a man and gave Himself up as the ultimate sacrifice so that all my sins are covered and I appear flawless in His eyes. Only a loving God would do that for me. And not just for me, but for anyone. All we have to do is accept the most difficult yet easiest free gift ever.
"I can only imagine........will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall, will I sing Hallelujah will I be able to speak at all.......I can only Imagine...."
Thank You God for loving us so much that You have provided us with One clear path to You! Thank You that in the face of sadness You shine a much needed light to point us to peace and comfort. Thank You for Your promises that do not waver and give us something sound when nothing around us seems stable. You are our anchor. Thank You Father.
