LONELY AND LONGING
You left my heart as empty
As a Monday morning church
It used to be so full of faith
And now it only hurts
And I can hear the devil whisper
“Things are only getting worse”
You left my heart as empty
As a Monday morning church
I still believe in Heaven
And I’m sure you’ve made it there
But as for me without your love,
I don’t have a prayer
You left my heart as empty
As a Monday morning church –Alan Jackson, Monday Morning Church
The passing of a loved one can leave us lonely and longing for their presence. It can be the source of many a Monday Moaning. Their heavenly journey can also leave us loving and longing for that glorious reunion.
Some of you are in that emotional tension right now. Earthly loneliness and glorious hope. You will learn to live with grief and hope. That is what love does.
I do not go out of my way to think about death, even on Monday Moaning. Thoughts of my loved ones’ earthly absence saddens me, but not to the point of Alan Jackson’s song. My heart does not feel as empty as Monday Morning Church. I have trust in God and hope of seeing them again.
My mind will usually pick up the last verse of How Great Thou Art or the chorus of the soul-rocking spiritual, Going Up Yonder. That moment will be sad for us still struggling and suffering in this world. But make no mistake about it, that departure will be glorious beyond imagination for our loved one.
I had a special moment with Dave Foster on his death bed.
Mr. Dave was the owner of the stolen pickup in last Winsday Wisdom’s Car Chase. [Take a good rainy day and check it out if you missed it.]
Dave was a strong man with a sensitive heart. He and his wife of seventy-years, Cleolice, were charter members of the church. The inaugural church service was held in their home. Cleolice served in the “bed babies” nursery for three decades. She was also a legend at playing dominos.
Dave battled dementia in his last years. He would tell me he could not remember most things, but he would never forget the Lord or Cleolice. Then he would break out into an old hymn.
Dave became very ill and was not expected to live much longer. Dave had been in a coma for several days. It so happened that Cleolice needed surgery. They were both in the same hospital, just in separate wings. During my visit, the family all needed to go check on Cleolice. I stayed alone in the hospital room with Dave.
I sat beside Dave’s bed reading some Scriptures out loud. I am not big on watching people pass away, but I do know there is a peace that passes understanding for those who believe in Jesus. Dave’s breathing was extremely shallow and sporadic. Several times, I thought he had stopped breathing.
Suddenly, Dave let out a big gasp. His big blue eyes opened wide as he stared upwards. This was the moment. Dave was about to see Jesus, face to face. I was about to witness that special homecoming.
I whispered, “Do you see the angels coming?…Dave, do you see the angels coming to take you to Heaven?”
Dave kept staring upwards. This man’s eyes had been closed for days. Now they were fixated on Heaven. My heart began to race, and my face was covered with the reflection of Dave’s radiance.
I moved closer to Dave and held his hand. I spoke softly, but slightly louder. “Dave, do you see the Lord and His angels coming to get you?”
Dave began to blink his eyes rapidly, then he fixed them in an upward gaze, in full anticipation of the glorious sighting.
“Do you see the heavenly chariots?”
He blinked several more times, hesitated, and then spoke for the first time in days.
“No… Not really.”
There was awkward silence. I was stunned. Dave could speak. Was Dave blind?
Dave gave a few more blinks. As he continued his intense stare in the heavenly direction, he softly reported, “No… I don’t see anybody coming,”
After a brief pause, he turned and asked, “Why are you here, Preacher? Do you see the chariots?”
How do I respond to that question?
“The heavenly horses got out of the barn, and I wondered if you had seen them around here?“
Apparently, the angelic escort was on hold. Dave lived on this earth for another five years.
What about the angels? They are unseen partners in life now.
God commands his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail (Psalm 91:11-12).
Will we see them in that last earthy moment?
Jesus said, “When Lazarus died, the angels carried him into heaven” (Luke 16:22).
This is my go-to verse regarding our future. It is especially good for Monday Moaning.
But God being rich in mercy, because of His GREAT LOVE with which He LOVED us, even when we were still (spiritually) dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace alone) and raised us up…and seated us in the heavenly places SO THAT (purpose clause) in the coming ages (endless eternity), God might show us the IMMEASURABLE riches of His grace in kindness TO US in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).
It will take God forever and ever to share with us His immeasurable goodness and everlasting joy, beyond our imagination.
No man or woman has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord (1 Corinthians 2:9).
I am praying that you will join me as we keep our eyes on the heavenly horizon but make our days count here and now.
I love you.
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine, yeah
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
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
I can only imagine
—I Can Only Imagine (Bart Millard, MercyMe)
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 