BBD 02.12.09 Eternal Joy
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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02.12.09
Eternal Joy
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth
weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him. - Psalm 126:5-6.
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents. - Luke 15:10.
The year was 1968. Picture the scene. A firefighter risking his life crawls
through thick smoke of an apartment knowing that somewhere inside there is a
baby. When a window broke, light came in, and then he saw the crib with the
baby. The baby was unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse. As the
firefighter fled the apartment with the baby he began mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation. The baby, Evangeline Harper, survived, grew up to have six
children. She works as an assistant in nursing and teaching. The
firefighter, William Carroll, received a commendation and after 34 more
years of dedicated service, retired.
Evangeline tried to find Carroll a few times over the years to thank him but
was never able to do so until yesterday. Can you picture the scene?
Evangeline says, "Thank you." Can you imagine the joy of William Carroll to
see this 41-year-old woman who is successfully living life and now meeting
not only her but one of her children? Evangeline was not sure that Carroll
would even be interested in meeting her or would even remember. However,
Carroll says that he would never forget even if he lived for a hundred more
years. At the end of their meeting William Carroll remarked, "What a
beautiful day!" With the reunion of Evangeline and Carroll we have a very
small glimpse of the joy that awaits many in Heaven.
As Christians we often are saddened by the response that we receive when we
attempt to share the Gospel. However, we continue to tell others about Jesus
even though our witness is often rejected. We understand why the Psalmist
speaks of the sower who goes forth "weeping." We understand why there are
"tears" that are mentioned in the Psalm.
Why do we persist in witnessing, in sharing our faith in Jesus with others?
Because we love the Lord, and it is not the Lord's will ".that any should
perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)." There is
rejoicing in Heaven over every sinner who repents and if there is rejoicing
then by the angels, there must also be sadness over those who reject the
Lord. Just as the angels understand the consequences of that rejection we
understand that too. Just as Heaven is forever, Hell is forever too, and
there is no escape from Hell when you leave this life without knowing Jesus
as your personal Savior. On his death bed Sir Thomas Scott, Chancellor of
England said, "Until this moment I thought there was neither God nor hell,
now I know that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just
judgment of the Almighty!"
Some bright glorious day in Heaven we will experience a reunion that will be
even more wonderful than the one experienced by Evangeline Harper and
William Carroll. It will be more wonderful because this will be a reunion
that will be eternal. All those seeds that you have sown in tears, you will
now see the fruit, the lives that were touched and saved. Oh, what a
wondrously beautiful, glorious, joy filled day that will be!! Joy that will
never end!!
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