We have no continuing city here...................

  I was challenged today on FB to post a verse. Thankfully it was not a favorite verse as that changes.
  Different passages of scripture have differing impacts on me depending which season of life I am in.
  Loss. Greif. Such difficult and painful things. Our mind spends many an hour, day, year trying to 'grasp' it all. What it 'means', how it changes things, and that irritating deep hope that its not real and things will go back to how they were.
  The verse I chose to post was Hebrews 13:14...but since it is impossible for me to choose only one I had to add 15 as well.
14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.   
  And that verse of course brings to mind this one;
2 Peter 3:13
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells......


  We really have no continuing city here on earth. There is no continuing anything in this world save for The Lord, His word and the souls of men. The earth shall pass away, our loved ones pass away, every day is new and different. Nothing is the same here. Nothings stays the same or is continuing.
  When we are in pain and the pain ceases we are glad things do not remain the same. If we are in bliss and our life is rudely interrupted by sorrow and loss then we want things to have 'remained the same'.......go figure. We even change whether or not we want things to remain the same.
  Having so many littles ones to minister to , I am always looking for gems of truth in Gods word to encourage them. Teach them at a young age to learn to see Gods hand in all things, learn now to trust that He is Sovereign...so that when the storms of life come....and they will come...they already have the foundation to stand strong when their very soul is faint with sadness. Here is one thing I remind them of~
  Yes Charity died. That is horribly sad for us. It is not sad for Charity as she is in eternal joy. As well though, she is no longer 'dead'. She is alive in heaven. The wreck, the trauma, the passing...its over. I have spent many a moment, when images (real or imagined) threaten me, reminding myself...IT IS OVER, IT IS OVER, IT IS OVER....


 A couple phrases my son Anthony and I came up with when he lost his newborn son were: "You are eternal in the heavens , forever in the arms of grace". Our departed ones live. Yes they live. Here we merely see as through a glass and see only a shadow of the things to come.

1 Corinthians 13:12

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 Might I suggest that those in heaven are 'really' living, much more than we are.

  I do not care for the term 'Rest in Peace'......Knowing in small part, the magnificence of the Lord and His abounding creativity and love and working in our lives, I would expect that more than resting, our loved ones are rejoicing.


 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.


  And what do you think of this one? Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.


  I do not claim to be any type of theologian. But I know that Gods word is sufficient to meet our every need.


Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
  Hebrews 2:17
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 2:18
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 7:25-26 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
 
  I always recall a story my husband tells. When he was younger, a pastor was teaching on the book of Genesis. He gave the account of Eves temptation and said how that relationship was broken forever...it would NEVER BE THE SAME. At the time my husband was young in the Lord and left the meeting on that note "That relationship between God and man would never be the same'. He was grieved all week and was in despair that it could never be gotten back. When he went the next week the pastor reminded folks that the relationship would NEVER BE THE SAME......BUT.... It would become better. We lost walking in the cool of the garden with the Lord but now we will reign with Him forevermore in perfection and righteousness. Never the same no. But better. That is how it is for our loved ones who are departed. Their lives are now, BETTER. Blessed be the name of the Lord.