I remember seeing my beautiful wife’s face the moment after she put a snorkel mask on and saw just a small part of the wonders of God’s creation under the surface of the ocean. I remember watching her dash to see her first monkey in the wild, with the attitude of a small child who had received that special gift for her birthday. I also clearly remember watching her leap down the steps of her rental house to meet me the day after we met.
I treasure all of these memories, but I wait for one even greater. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)
I want to see my lovely wife’s face the very first time she meets Jesus.
I ask the Lord occasionally if it is possible, that we could walk into His eternal Kingdom together, holding hands, as we do nearly every time we are together. I do not mean to impose on Him, and I know it may sound foolish to some of you, but it is what I want, and He said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13) So I am asking.
It may also sound ridiculous to some of you, but, if need be, since I am older than her, I will ask if I can wait outside the gate until she arrives home if I die before her, but it is my desire, as it has been for many since the Lord disappeared in the clouds in the presence of many, that we would be blessed to be a part of the rapture. To watch her face, once I am able to take my eyes away from the Savior for a moment, is a dream of mine.
I have no idea when the Lord will call me home, or my wife, I only rest assured that it will be when the tasks that He has set before me have been accomplished. I believe this is true of all who serve the Lord for the glory of God, He never leaves anything half-done, all that He has purposed to do through us will be completed, then we will go home. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6)
There are of course unprofitable servants, and I believe there are children of the Most High who, in one form or another and because of circumstances that they could not endure, are, for lack of a better explanation, removed from this earth before they have an opportunity to further dishonor His Holy name. Needless to say, they will receive quite a stern talking to, but will remain saved, though as 1 Corinthians 3:15 says, “yet so as by fire.”
I liken others though to Hebrews 11:38, “(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Many there are that serve the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and I believe that those receive greater blessings here as well as more rewards in heaven. Few can say they could stand beside Moses, the servant of God, beside Abraham, the friend of God (what an enormous blessing, to be called the friend of God!) or with David, a man after God’s own heart.
But we can be obedient, we can offer our lives to Him in full and earnestly, and we can make requests.
I have no close family members that I am waiting to be reunited with in heaven, though there are many God-fearing men whose books I have read that I am hoping to hold long conversations with, I suppose the lines will be long, but I will have time to wait my turn. I of course long to hear the Savior’s words to me, I look forward to not only my initial, very personal conversation with Him, but time without end following and listening to Him.
I want to see God.
But I also want to hold my wife’s hand as we explore His endless creation, I want to spend eternity with her, watching as her joy grows over the eons. It is one of my most sought after requests, and I believe the Lord will hear it. Maybe I should ask my lovely wife first if that’s what she also desires. That would probably be a good idea.
