Monday Mornng Manna: Considering Heaven, but Not Yet

I’ve finally reached that age – that age, where friends my age are dying. I’ve lost several over the past few months, another last week. Actually, I have not lost them. I know exactly where they are. With each new pain and with every visit with a doctor or specialist, I realize that my time of joining my friends is not far away, and their passing, makes heaven look even more attractive. One of my favorite writers was Lewis Grizzard, who was a columnist for the Atlanta Constitution-Journal when we lived in Georgia. I loved his book titles as much as the contents. One favorite title was, “Elvis is Dead, and I Don’t Feel so Good Myself.” I understand. But here is some good news – “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints“ (Psalm 116:15). All my life, I have sought to please God. It is comforting to know that when the end comes, I will still be “precious” and pleasing to Him. But for a while longer, I prefer that my trips to the cemetery be driving behind the hearse.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.