by Shirlee Vandegrift

Recently, in the process of cleaning out drawers and shelves I made many trips down memory lane.  At home the trips had to do with my children.  I have four.  They are in their 40s and 50s, but as I come across items of theirs that I saved I see and hear them as they were way back when.  The children are grown.  We went through the good and the not so good times.  There was very little of a spiritual nature in our house.

Where did those people go?

In the church where I have volunteered for over 10 years, cleaning out a desk and office space brings back different thoughts.  The Lord I love is present everywhere.  Most of us know where we are going and it is a good thing.  Why?  Because as I sift through old files I see the names of those who have gone before and the numbers are astonishing.  Astonishing because after all, we seniors in our 70s, 80s and 90s are not ready to meet our Maker quite yet, even though we say we are.

But our Maker is ready to meet us.

Will I see all my friends when I get to heaven?  Have I assumed they will be there because I saw them in church or sat next to them in a class? And what about those wild and crazy people I used to associate with?  Have I assumed I would NOT see them because they were strangers to my Lord?   Well so was I.

Where will we go?  Who is to judge?

For all who believe and proclaim Jesus as Lord, heaven is ours.  For all who don’t know Jesus Christ, who have not accepted him into their hearts and who have not repented, heaven is a place they will not see.  Sad, isn’t it?  Sadder still if they could be with us if we only had told them how to get there.

Who will you tell about Jesus today? 

Who do you want to see after Jesus greets you?

I want to see you.