Preface: The following is a December of 2023 post. A few years back....almost ten....just before I retired....I was on a special project at work....working closely with a man whom I knew only to say hello. His father had recently passed away....and we talked for a good while....well he talked for a good while about his father whom he loved so much. Eventually....maybe later that day or the next day....I tried to lead the conversation into the gospel. This man was pretty near a perfect conversationalist as he listened...and actually thought things through....and he was honest in giving his own thoughts. So somewhere in the conversation about Jesus and salvation....he paused and looked at me with a serious face and said...."So you're telling me that my father is in hell?" We were long past talking about his father....if not days past it....but he put two and two together. The rest of our time together went well in spite of this. I think about him at times....although I'm having trouble even remembering his name. God remembers....so I can still pray for him. Would you offer up a short prayer for this man and his wonderful family....wife and children....that he loved so dearly? Please pray that God would....if it be His will....and if He has not already....use that honesty in this man to call him to salvation. I bring this up because this man's mind at the time went to the then present condition of his father who had passed away. We all have thoughts of that nature....but the question is...do we ever have the thoughts that the wonderful woman that I describe in the post below had? It is not so much will the one that I love be in heaven....as....how could Jesus so love some one such as me?
"But I Want To See Jesus"
In the 80s and 90s I listened to Christian talk radio all the time....occasionally sending off an email to the host. My wife and I had a Christian bookstore in the late 90s....and these folks at the radio station worked with me on a very nice commercial for the bookstore....but I haven't listened in much over the past few decades....until today when I tuned it in on a very short drive.....to the grocery store. That is the impetus for this short post.
Kathy Keller....the wife of Tim Keller who went to be with the Lord in May of 2023....was interviewed. I got the impression that she has been on the talk show quite a few times....as the conversation was very casual. Even in this short period of time she got my attention by mentioning Puritan related biblical themes.
I'm going to try to relate this as accurately as I can remember. At one point....remember now....she is talking slowly....as if sitting around a breakfast table with the hosts....at one point I could almost see her gazing off in the distance as she said something like this....'It's not so much that I look forward to seeing Tim in heaven....but I want to see Jesus.' And then she repeated the sentiment.
How we need to hear this exact sentiment today! It is Jesus who awaits us! Everything is Jesus! Yes....whatever the details of heaven are.....(I think that Kathy Keller used almost those same words)....meeting loved ones for one.....we will find out....and this surely would be wonderful....but this we know....the glorious Lord of our salvation....who beginning in that manger that we will soon celebrate....took on flesh....temptations and sufferings and all....and became as the lowest dreg in the minds of the people who called out...."crucify Him....crucify Him!".....and was brutally....crucified....for those elect who include a worm like me! Why? We will find out in due time....but for now....Maranatha.....Come Lord Jesus!
