A lesson for me to learn (part I)

For quite some time now, Joann and I have made a conscious effort to witness to Granddad.  Joann sent him 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, hoping he would see his need for Jesus.  This past Christmas, I sent him a tract.  On several occasions, I tried specifically to witness to him.  The Evangelism Explosion class I took taught me how to witness.  So one time I even took my Evangelism Explosion note cards into his room to aid me as I witnessed to him.  I hid the cards on my legs, so he could not see them!    

When I went to see him a few weeks ago, I told him I had a dream about him.  He said, “Did I die?”  I told him no.  I told him in my dream I saw a white figure and he (Granddad) was in the distance.  I don’t know if the figure was God, Jesus, or an angel.  The figure said two distinct things:  “Experience Christ for yourself.”  “Do you know Him?”  The reason I remembered these questions so vividly is because I was awoken from the dream nodding my head yes to the question the figure asked.  When I woke up, I did not want to forget the things he said, so I wrote them down.  I don’t know the purpose of the dream but finished relaying it to Granddad.  I did not witness to him this time but told him a lot of people were praying for him and something to the effect that he needed Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior.

Dad called last Sunday to let us know Granddad was not eating and drinking much at all, and Hospice was helping out.  Granddad was being kept comfortable and was being given Morphine for the pain.  Dad did not think Granddad would live but a few more days.  I told him I was sorry. 

I wanted to drive down Monday after work to see him again.  Paul said, “I know why you want to see him again.”  He knew I wanted to witness to him again.  But we both knew it was futile.  With Granddad being on Morphine, he would not be in the right state of mind.   The Lord was going to have to do a miracle.

I asked the teachers at school to please pray for my granddad’s salvation.  Tuesday after I asked the teacher’s to pray, two teachers came up to me and asked if they could pray with me right then.  I said sure.  Over and over, the theme in the prayer was for the Lord to call him one more time.

I really wanted to visit Granddad after church on Sunday.  I knew Ashton had baseball practice at 5:30.  The schedule would be tight, but these things are trivial especially because my granddad is dying, and I’m not sure of his salvation.  Paul emailed Ashton’s coach and told him he would be late for practice.

U  What “trivial” activities can be delayed or cancelled so visits can be made to see the loved one?  U

U  What are you doing to help insure your loved one’s salvation?  U

 

Piper, Don. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN.  Grand Rapids:  Fleming H. Revell, 2004. 26, 31.

A second mourning? (part III)

He also spoke of the deepest joy he felt, and he did not have any worries, anxieties, or concerns.  The two statements he made that stood out in my mind were, “I wasn’t conscious of anything I’d left behind and felt no regrets about leaving family or possessions.  It was as if God had removed anything negative or worrisome from my consciousness, and I could only rejoice at being together with these wonderful people.”

I always wondered if people in Heaven could see what we were doing.  But it seems to me, they are focused on God and praising him.  There will be no sorrow in Heaven, so they probably cannot see us.  I still tell God to tell Mom I love her.  It is up to Him whether or not that should be done.  But I trust Him and know He makes the best decisions for me.

Through reading the book, and even today as I sat in church, the one thing I received was “rejoice!”  The song that spurred on this thought was O’ Come, O’ Come Emmanuel (anonymous, n.d.).  I was thinking of Mom for some reason as I was singing the song, and the words rang out “Rejoice! Rejoice!”  Let go!  Quit being selfish and wanting her here, and rejoice because she is eternally with Jesus in Heaven.

U Can you rejoice because your loved one is with Jesus in Heaven?  U

On the way back home, we took back roads, so we would miss the holiday traffic and possible wrecks.  We were a few miles from Mom’s gravesite, and I asked Ashton if he wanted to go to Granny’s gravesite and he said, “Yes.”

We stopped at the gravesite for a few minutes.  I turned around because I heard the chimes ringing.  I asked Ashton if he rang the chimes, and he said he did.  Before I left, I said out loud to Jesus, “I am going to rejoice because she is with you in Heaven.”

I yearn to be with her, and I have to be patient until I see her beautiful face again.  She is no longer in pain and suffering.  Until then, I have to learn to rejoice and remember Jesus has me here for a reason.  I need to strive to fulfill my mission here on earth.

     Piper, Don. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN. Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell, 2004. 26, 31.  

A second mourning? (part II)

For about two days, while I was at Dad’s house, I was absorbed in reading the book.  The day before Thanksgiving, I went out on Dad’s back patio, laid on the patio couch, read the book, and listen to the chimes as the wind blew.  Several times I fell asleep and was content with resting instead of reading.  The sun began to set and for the first time, in a very long time, I felt peace.

The book is called, 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN.  It is a true story about a preacher (Don) that was killed in a tragic car wreck.  Don had been dead for ninety minutes and was still trapped in his wrecked car.

A Baptist preacher traveling by was stopped in the traffic caused by the wreck, and he walked up to the crash site.  He told the emergency workers he was a Baptist preacher and asked if he could pray for anyone.  He was told the man in the red car was deceased, but he was compelled to pray for the man anyway.  He said, “God spoke to me and said, ‘You need to pray for the man in the red car.”  The preacher climbed into the red car and prayed fervently the man to not have internal injuries or brain damage.  He also began singing hymns.  As he prayed for the man, the man came to life and began to sing with him.   

Don was miraculously brought back to life from the fatal car wreck.  Most of the book is about Don’s recovery, and the struggles he has endured since the wreck.  The first few chapters and the focal point of the book are about the ninety minutes Don spent in Heaven while he was dead.

People welcomed Don to Heaven by name.  He refers to the people as “his celestial welcoming committee.”  The people who welcomed him were people that played an instrumental role in his becoming a Christian and helped him in his Christian walk.  He embraced loved ones that had passed on before him, and to Don it was the grandest family reunion. 

He spoke of the glorious music and praises he heard while he was in Heaven.  “Praise was everywhere, and all of it was musical, yet comprised of melodies and tones I’d never experienced before.”  He heard, “Hallelujah!  Praise!  Glory to God!  Praise to the King!   Such words rang out in the midst of all the music.”  The swishing of angel’s wings could also be heard. 
 

     Piper, Don. 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN.  Grand Rapids:  Fleming H. Revell, 2004.   26, 31.