Will I Recognize People In Heaven?

A good buddy and I were texting recently when he asked me an important question:  "Will I recognize my family and friends when I get to Heaven?"  Lots of people have discussed and pondered that over the centuries.  So let's have a little fun and explore that topic today.

Here are three quick thoughts:

Number one.  In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story about a rich man and Lazarus.  Lazarus died and went to Heaven.  The rich man was able to look into Heaven and he recognized Lazarus.

Number two.  In Matthew 17, some disciples of Jesus were allowed to see a glimpse Moses and Elijah, who had already passed from Earth to Heaven.  It was a rare opportunity and incredible experience.  The disciples recognized Moses and Elijah.

Number three. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, we read these words:  "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."  I believe that Paul was talking about having improved senses and a heightened awareness (seeing and knowing) on the other side of the grave.

Now, let me share with you a general observation I've made after reading and studying scripture: God makes a big deal out of relationships.  He's into loving us, and us loving Him back.  He's also into us loving each other.  In the Old and New Testaments, God calls us to healthy bonds with all those we encounter.  So the idea of us being called to Heaven and not being allowed to recognize and enjoy people we have known on Earth seems to contradict the very nature of God.

I've said all that to say this:  Yes, I do indeed believe we will recognize and enjoy our family and friends in Heaven.  We will know who they are.  They will know who we are.  And the reunions will be mighty special.

Ultimately let us remember this:  While it will be special to see our loved ones and buddies in heaven, the greatest thrill will be to see Jesus face-to-face.  He is The One who loves us eternally, unconditionally, and sacrificially.  He is The One who paved our way to Heaven in the first place. So, seeing Jesus will by far be the greatest thrill of all.  And I really look forward to that.

1000 More

My son and I play backyard football together.  A lot!  Usually I'm the quarterback and he's the receiver.  He loves running around and catching passes.

A couple of days ago, he decided to change the rules of the game.  This is a regular occurrence with Emerson.  Ha!  Ha!  As our game was drawing to a close, he suddenly announced, "Dad, the referees have decided that four quarters of football is not enough for us today.  So we have to play 1,000 more minutes!"  I had to smile.  See, the boy loves our time together.  I get the impression he is a normal kid who wants time with his father.

1,000 more minutes...

That instantly reminded me of a hymn I grew up singing in church.  Part of it goes like this....

"When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,

we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun."

(From the hymn "Amazing Grace")

Just think about that.  One day in Heaven we will say to ourselves, "Wow, I've been here for 10,000 years, and the cool thing is eternity is only just beginning!"  Everlasting life in Heaven will be so wonderful that we will never want it to end.  The reason for this is simple:  we will enjoy the awesome presence of God, our Father.

As his father, I'm glad Emerson wants more time with me.  It makes me feel good.  And I can tell it's a big deal to him.  

Maybe I was being blessed with a preview of what Heaven will be like for me.  I'll be so happy to commune with my Heavenly Father, I'll never want it to end.  And the neat thing is, it won't end ... not after 1,000 minutes or 10,000 years.  It will last forever, and I think it will be amazing!

Christmas 2013 video

 

Here is my Christmas 2013 video.  I hope you enjoy it.  Many special thanks to my sweet daughter, Lizzie, for filming and editing this.

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Funeral Home Flower Van

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests."  Luke 2:14

This year I worked at a funeral home in South Carolina for a few months.  Man, I loved that job.  It was an awesome experience that I'll always remember.

My boss let me try a little bit of everything.  This allowed me to get a feel for the job.  One task he let me take on was handling the flower van.

Here's how it went: When someone died, people bought flowers for the family.  The flowers would all be on display in the church or chapel when folks arrived for the funeral service.  Then, when the service ended, it was time to take everyone out to the cemetery for a graveside service.  The issue was that the same flowers in the church or chapel also needed to be displayed at the cemetery where people were about to go.  So some of us had to quickly load all the flowers in the flower van as soon as the service ended.  Then we swiftly drove to the cemetery, unloaded all the flowers, strategically placed all the flowers around the gravesite, parked the van out of sight, sprinted back to the tent where everyone was about to gather, and then stood under the tent to wait for the funeral procession to arrive.  It was a race to get everything done before the family and friends arrived.  We wanted everything looking nice, and usually we succeded.  Personally, I enjoyed the excitement that came with the funeral home flower van.  It felt good to get it done right.  And it felt good when my boss would arrive at the cemetery and give us a thumbs up!

It was vital to be in a hurry with our job.

But it's dangerous to be in a hurry every second of every day.

Bobby, my boss at the funeral home, understood this perfectly.  He expected me to hustle and give my best when I was on the clock.  But he also told me on a regular basis to get rest when it was time to go home for the day.  I always appreciated how he juggled the importance of productivity and peace.

Sometimes we all need to slow down, relax, and reconnect with God's peace.  Why?  Because He never intended for us to live in a 24/7 rat race where we constantly remain an uptight bundle of nerves.  Yes, there is a time to work hard and hurry.  Absolutely!  Especially if you are in charge of a funeral home flower van.  But there is also a time to ease off the pedal, slow down, and chill out.  Seasons of relaxation and calmness are needed in our lives.  May we maintain a healthy balance of work and rest in our lives.  A reasonable dose of both will do us all a lot of good.

My prayer is that the peace of God will cover and saturate us all during this Christmas season, and that you and I will enjoy times of rest and calmness with our family and friends over the holidays.

PS:  If you want to see the funeral home I worked at, just click HERE.

When Santa Brought Me Mr. Quarterback

10 years old.  That's how old I was when Santa left a Mr. Quarterback for me in the living room at Christmas.  And man oh man, I was thrilled!  Without a doubt it was my favorite Christmas present from my childhood.

Mr. Quarterback was this cool device that could hold and pass a football.  All I had to do was place my football in the arm, point it the direction I wanted, set the timer, and take off running.  After 6 or 7 seconds, it would make a beautiful throw, and I would try to make an amazing catch.  I used to spend hours playing ball with Mr. Quarterback in our front hard.

After a couple of years, however, Mr. Quarterback started malfunctioning here and there.  The timer was a little off, and the arm got weak.  Maybe it was the wear and tear from all those passes.  Maybe it was the occasional rough weather.  Eventually, I had to retire Mr. Quarterback.  He went up to that great toy store in the sky.

Things on this Earth don't last forever.  Our favorite possessions can be here today and gone tomorrow.  Sooner or later, their time expires and they are here no more.

I've come to realize that stuff is temporary, but God is eternal.  He has no beginning and no end.  God has just always been around, and He always will be.

So we would be wise to make Him
the foundation of our lives,
the center of our attention,
the top of our priorities,
the source of our strength,
the provider of our peace,
the Savior of our souls,
and The Lord of our everything.

Yep, God is eternal.  He will always be here.  That makes Him pretty spectacular.  And that's just one more reason why our whole life ought to revolve around Him.

The Empty Bag

One of my 8th graders approached me at school the other day.  "Merry Christmas, Mr. Richardson!", he exclaimed as he handed me a gift.  "Oh man, thanx!", I replied.  Then I opened it up, looked inside, and saw ... nothing.  So I glanced at the kid.  He busted out laughing and said "I got ya!" before walking off.  I stood there and laughed too.  The ole empty bag trick is one that kids have been playing for generations.

It's not such a thrill to see an empty gift bag.  But it is mega-thrilling to see the empty tomb.  Let me explain... 

We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.  Then we remember His death on Good Friday.  But we ultimately rejoice over His resurrection at Easter.  

My Savior was dead.  He had been crucified and buried on a Friday.  He was still in that tomb on Saturday.  He was in the clutches of death.  But friends, on Sunday, the third day, He walked right out of that tomb alive and well.  He had defeated death.  Many people saw Him, and He then went back up to Heaven and rejoined His Father.  Today, He is alive and well.  Loving us, preparing a place in Heaven for us, and looking out for us.

The empty bag was a bummer.  But the empty tomb of Jesus is a blessing.  Because that tomb is empty, and because Jesus is alive, our hearts are filled with the Heavenly gifts of saving grace, everlasting joy, and calming peace, just to name a few.  And if you ask me, I'll tell you that those gifts are better than anything that kid would have given me in a bag.

The Crying Girl

I just don't know what to do when a girl or woman cries.  The truth is, most guys don't.  We fumble through our words and lose all clarity of thought when feminine tears fall.

I was 20 years old, and, in retrospect, clueless.  A teenage girl started crying in the middle of a Bible study I was leading during a youth retreat in Awanita Valley, North Carolina.  While we were having a group discussion, she blurted out "I don't have any friends in this group, and nobody here cares about me."  Good grief, what was I supposed to do?  That was awkward!  All I could say is, "Ok, everyone, let's just take a fifteen minute break."  Before I knew it, a few girls took the crying girl into another room to comfort her.

After fifteen minutes, everyone came back in the room.  The crying girl was now fine, and several other girls were sitting by her side.  Things looked better to me.  "Is everybody ok now?", I asked.  Chris, one of our teen guys, quickly said, "Yeah man.  It'll be alright in the morning."  All the other kids nodded in agreement.  I had no idea what he was talking about, but I just shrugged my shoulders and went on with the Bible study.  When we finished, I pulled Chris aside and asked, "What did you mean by 'It'll be alright in the morning'?"  He quickly smiled and said, "Just check out Psalm 30:5 and you'll see what I mean."  So I went to my room, opened up my Bible to the passage, and read these words:  "Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning."  Then it all made sense.

That verse still means the world to me.  It reminds me that tough times don't last forever.  Hardships are temporary.  And in the end, God's people triumph and rejoice.

If you're hurting in any way, keep the following in mind:  It'll be alright in the morning.  This tough season of life will end.  You will get through.  And God will see to it that you smile and celebrate once more!

Child of God, all will be well.

A Pocket Inside The Pocket

My classroom keys were missing.  As a new 8th grade teacher, I was panicking.  I checked my pockets, my desktop, my backpack, my car, and every other place I could think of.  No keys!  Then I double-checked all the same locations once more.  Still, I could not find them.  I was too embarrassed to say much about it because I was just starting the job, and I didn't want to look out of sorts to people.  Filled with frustration I searched high and low all afternoon.  No luck.

Later that night I was putting my clothes in the washing machine.  As I was walking towards the laundry room, I heard a jingle noise on the floor.  I looked down and saw my keys!  Then it made sense.  My jeans had a pocket inside the pocket.  And earlier that day I had unknowingly put my keys in the inner pocket.  Fortunately, they fell out my jeans when I was about to do my laundry.

How crazy was that?  I was looking everywhere for my keys, and the whole time they were right there with me.  Right by my side.

As I think back on that, I realize that at times I've done the same thing with God.  I've had moments of loneliness, fear, grief, and pain.  And while I was going through those times, I sometimes wondered "Where is God?"  He didn't seem near to me at all.  I could not feel His presence.  It was like He had vanished.  Then someone I knew or something I read reminded me that God was right there with me.  The whole time He had been by my side and I just didn't realize it.

Jesus made this promise in Matthew 28:20:  "I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  What a promise from our Lord!  Day in and day out, rain or shine, in good times and bad, He stays here with us.  He is a faithful companion through thick and thin.

If God seems distant or missing, remember His promise and hold on to your faith.  He is there.  Closer than you think.  And He does care!  One way or another, He will see you through.  That's just how awesome God really is.

When Justin Bieber Came To Carolina

My youngest daughter, Rachel, is like a lot of girls her age.  One specific way this is especially true is her attachment to Justin Bieber.  She has his cd's and posters in her room.  It's safe to say he is kind of a big deal to her!

Now I'm a 43 year old guy.  I think a couple of his songs are pretty cool, and he is musically talented, but I really wish he'd pull his pants up and show a little more class at times.  My guess is he doesn't care too much about what guys like me think because he's got about a gazillion girls around the planet who think he hung the moon.

Anyway, Justin performed a concert in our home state of South Carolina earlier this year, and I made Rachel's dream come true by taking her to see him sing.  We arrived four hours before the show so she could see his bus pull into the parking lot.  Then I bought her some things she wanted at the souvenir table (hat, T-shirt, etc.).  Finally his show started.  My shy, quiet daughter went absolutely insane.  She cheered, cried, sang, laughed, and danced the whole night.  I had never seen her go nuts like that before.  But she loved it, and it made her happy.  That's all that mattered to me.

See, I've realized that love is selfless instead of selfish.  It thinks about other people.  And that's what motivated me to go to the concert.  It hurt my wallet and damaged my hearing for a couple days, but it was worth it.  I made my kid really happy and made memories that will last a lifetime.  Mission accomplished!

When we love other people, we will focus more on them and less on ourselves.  Actually, we will start to become a little more like Jesus when love fills our heart.  He loved us so much that He gave up His life to rescue us.  He focused more on us than on Himself.  That's pretty special if you ask me.

May Jesus help us love people the same way He loves people.  May we serve and bless them more.  And may we obsess over ourselves less.  

So I'm glad we went.  It was a special night.  I enjoyed making my child happy in good ole South Carolina.

P.S.  I still wish Justin would buy a belt and pull up his pants....  

Don't Be A Fan Of Jesus

I've realized Jesus is not interested in us being a fan.  Not at all.  He is much more interested in us being a follower.

What helped me understand this?  Kyle Idleman's book "Not A Fan".  I finished reading it this morning, and I can honestly tell you it blessed my soul.

The author states early in this awesome volume, "The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren't actually interested in following Jesus.  They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them."  (Page 25).  This reminds me of the times Dad has talked to me about people who want all the benefits without taking any responsibility.

A fan of Jesus is someone who admires Him and thinks He is really special.  A follower of Jesus is someone who worships Him as Lord, and is willing to live and die for Him.  See the difference?  Fans are casual, while followers are committed.  

I absolutely loved how Idleman wrote this book.  He has the heart of a pastor and the mind of a scholar.  He takes deep truths and presents them in understandable language.  He speaks in layman's terms and shares practical, fascinating stories to make his point.  This book made me laugh at times, and made me reflect deeply and seriously at times. 

I can honestly tell you this is the best book I've read in quite a while.  God spoke to me while reading it, and my relationship with Jesus is different because of it.  This was time well spent.

Do yourself a favor:  buy and read "Not A Fan" by Kyle Idleman.  You'll be glad you did.  I guarantee it.

P.S.  To learn more about this book and how to order it, click HERE.