For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from GOD, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.-2 Cor. 5:1
Last week, i was walking my dog and i had a part of a song perusing in my mind...it was a small part albeit, but it was a part. I couldn't quite remember the words, but i knew it was along the lines of "needing to fix my shingles," and...something "about an old house." I searched and searched on my phone for it as i walked. I knew the Isaacs sang it, but could not find it to save my life. Several years ago, i was in Texas for some medical treatment, and my room on the second floor was next to a rickety old house, that was draped with moss, and fallen leaves. In it's dilapidated state, it had reminded me of this song and i wrote a blog about it then.
When i got back to the house after my walk, i had my time with the LORD. Since my Daddy died, i have began reading a couple of old devotion books i used to read-"Streams in the Desert," and "Words of Comfort and Cheer," by Charles Cowman. I opened up the "Streams in The Desert," and i couldn't believe what the devotion was about for that day:
October 21 Ready to Move
For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from GOD, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.-2 Cor. 5:1
The owner of the tenement which i have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So i am getting ready to move.
It is strange how quickly one's interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make and investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned there, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times i have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to the King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often i am asked to make some new investments her, but my answer in every case is, "I am getting ready to move."-Selected
The words often on Jesus' lips in His last days express vividly the idea, "going to the Father." We, too, who are CHRIST's people, have vision of something beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We are journeying towards fulfillment, completion, expansion of life. We, too, are "going to the Father." Much is dim concerning our home-country, but two things are clear. It is home, "the Father's House." It is the nearer presence of the Lord. We are all wayfarers, but the believer knows it and accepts it. He is a traveller, not a settler.-R.C. Gillie
Let us go singing, then, and not sighing:
Since we are sure our times are in His hand,
Why should we weep, and fear, and call it dying?
'Tis only flitting to a Summer land. -Selected
When i read this devotion, i couldn't believe it! This devotion had gone right along with the song i was trying my best to remember but couldn't think of it. I prayed, Lord, help me find that song, and "Boom!" almost immediately God put in my head some of the lyrics after reading this devotion and i was able to find it. Here it is, "I'm Going to Move," by the Isaacs:
With my Dad's moving to heaven being just a little over three weeks ago, these verses, thoughts, and song was such a comfort to my heart. My Dad's body that had served him so well for most of his almost 94 years, had gotten in some bad repair over the past 10 years. He began losing his eyesight with macular degeneration in his mid 80's and had to give up driving. His hearing continued to gradually decline and a couple of years ago he had a bad ear infection and lost complete hearing in his left ear. The antibiotic left his joints sore and achy for several months afterwards. He began losing his short term memory a few years ago. He could tell it was coming on and he showed my brothers where his important papers were filed very neatly, and went over business things with them they needed to know to take care of our dear Mother. A year ago, he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, and more and more of his days were spent sitting in the swing on the carport watching the traffic go by and the fields across the highway, or on the back porch looking at his "Grandfather Tree," as he called it where both of his Granddaddies had helped him plant a maple tree in his back lot many years ago. I often would come down and hear my Daddy singing which is something i don't remember him doing when i was growing up.
A week before Daddy died, i went down to their house like i usually do on Thursdays to do their grocery shopping. I asked Daddy how he was doing and he said, "I'm here," which wasn't like him. The past few years he would always say, "I'm hanging in here," when i asked him how he was doing. As we talked later that afternoon, we enjoyed a bowl of Brunswick stew from Whitt's Bar B Que which was our Thursday routine after he helped put up the groceries. I remember Daddy sitting in his recliner and saying: "If you aren't prepared for where you are going, you had better get prepared." I don't remember what were were talking about, but i remember these being close to his last words to my heart and i hope i will never forget them and live by them.
My Daddy was prepared when the LORD called him home early in the morning of October 1, 2020. He had settled his relationship with JESUS a long time ago. He couldn't remember the exact time and date when i asked him in his later years when he accepted CHRIST, but he knew he had and his life bore much fruit for CHRIST through his life of laying down his life for his family and others. He led his family to church, and he raised us to love the LORD. In GOD's time each of us five siblings would go on to accept CHRIST as our LORD and SAVIOR.
The past few months due to the Covid shutdown, i made some sweet memories of coming in on Sunday mornings and seeing my Mom and Dad watch their church service on TV. Daddy would scoot up close to the TV so he could see it and hear the preaching. One Sunday morning my Dad and I shared the LORD's supper together on his back porch as our pastor led us online. Another day, Daddy and i were sitting in the swing together and i asked Daddy if he'd like me to read the Bible to him and he said yes and turned toward me with his good ear and he listened attentively.
My Daddy was getting ready to move, and though we would never be ready for him to temporarily leave us, his old house, or tent, was worn out. His sprit is in heaven with JESUS and one day the Bible teaches us that JESUS is going to come in the clouds, the trumpet is going to sound, and the dead in CHRIST shall rise first.
By the word of the LORD, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the LORD will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the LORD Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in CHRIST will be first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will always be with the LORD..." I Thessalonians 4:15-16
Then, verse 18 says "to encourage one another with these words."
I will have to tell you, i was so encouraged when i read that devotion Wednesday morning and the LORD brought that song to my mind. He reminded me that Daddy's old tent had worn out and now he has a building in heaven that is eternal in the heavens and Daddy is with the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
As i stood by his grave a few days ago to check the mums we had placed on it, God again brought joy to my heart reminding me that Daddy wasn't there. His dead body was planted like a seed of corn that Daddy had planted so much of during his life, and his old body will be raised again, turned into a new body, when the LORD comes for HIS Bride.
`So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body; raised a spiritual body." I Corinthians 15:42-44
Daddy's spirit is in heaven because Daddy had trusted in JESUS as his LORD and SAVIOR years ago.
If you haven't accepted CHRIST as your LORD and SAVIOR, Daddy's exhortation to me a week before he died is my exhortation to you: "If you aren't prepared for where you are going, you better get prepared." No decision is a decision to spend eternity in hell if you should die apart from CHRIST.
To accept JESUS as your LORD and SAVIOR:
- Admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23
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