Heaven’s Hope Means Earth’s Goodbyes are Not Forever

In this passage the Apostle Paul says a final farewell to the Ephesian Church Leaders which caused them great  sorrow.

Acts 20:25 & 36-38 (NLT)
     “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. ³⁶ When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. ³⁷ They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. ³⁸ They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again….”

Earthly goodbyes, as heart breaking as they are, never mean forever goodbyes. The Apostle Paul reminds us of our heavenly hope in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NLT) “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope” And he continues in 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 (NLT) “ Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

The Apostle Paul affirms this assurance in 2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT)
      “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Father, at home with the Lord means we will be with you and our loved ones in heaven forever. As the Psalms says “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”  Psalm 23:6

Thank you Father for this blessed, glorious and eternal hope. Thank you that in Christ goodbye here is good morning up there. It is hello to goodbye.

Amen

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