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Laying Our Burdens Down
Laying Our Burdens Down
And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them (Revelation 14:13)
I love the message that springs forth from one of our great old songs that proclaims in no uncertain terms, “no tears, no tears up there, no tears in heaven will be known.” I don’t know about you, but as for me, this pilgrimage of life has been and really still is a grand, exciting adventure. I have experienced a lot of happiness, joy and peace of mind. This journey has also at times been one of sadness, pain and heartache making it a troublesome journey. I venture to say that as you reflect on your life, you will nod your head and say, Amen.
I love this life and want to stay here as long as possible even though my physical body being burdened groans more and more with each passing day causing me to think often of being absent from this body and being at home with the Lord where there will be no tears, no burdens to bear, no sorrow, pain or heartache (2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Revelation 21:1-5). I know that this world is not my permanent abiding place and neither is it yours (Hebrews 9:27, Philippians 3:12-14, 20).
Heaven is the final resting place for the faithful child of God. Thoughts of heaven are full of joy bringing comfort and peace to our weary soul. Listen to the beautiful words of Jesus found in John 14:1-3. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
One day our old physical body will be finished, we will lay it down and move out to that radiant dwelling place prepared for us. Hear Paul as he says in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” That my friends is the Christians view of death. To be absent from this earthly body and be at home with the Lord is a day to anticipate with great joy (2 Cor. 5:7-9)
Once there was a time in my life when it seemed as if time moved so slowly. It seemed to take forever to go from one birthday to another one and from one Christmas to another Christmas was an eternity. Years ago, I often heard my children as they anxiously looked forward to some event still days ahead say, “I just can’t wait” and truth be known, I have said the same thing and I suspect all of this is probably true for you also. What I am trying to say in a feeble way is that this is the way we should feel about heaven—Just can’t wait. Yes, as I stated in the beginning of this message, this pilgrimage has been an exciting adventure but like a wanderer home from his travels, my soul thrills at the thought of going home to my eternal dwelling place. How do you feel about all this?
I leave you with these words from Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Charles Hicks, Hendersonville Tennessee
