A Conversation

This afternoon before Stephen left for Grand Saline, I sat Cavett down and told him why his daddy was leaving. It went something like this...

Mommy: Do you know that Grandaddy is sick?

Cavett: Yea. He has cancer.

Mommy: Yes, just like Granpaw and Gran. He really isn't feeling well which means he may go see Jesus soon.

Cavett: (with a sad look) Then, I won't have any grandads left.

Mommy: (holding back the tears, gnashing the teeth, my heart breaking) Yes, that's right.

Cavett: (looking on the bright side with a smile) But I'll still have Nana and Grandmama. And, Jesus is going to raise from the dead and all the people in heaven are going to come down so we can all be together again.

Mommy: Yes, that is almost right. But Jesus already rose and one day he is going to come back to earth and make everything right again.

Cavett: Oh, yeah, yeah. (as if it is tomorrow) He's going to come back with all the people in heaven and we are going to all live here on earth.

Cavett's got it. I wish it were still as easy as he makes it sound. The emotions just get in the way when you are older.

Isaiah 65:17-18, 20--"Look, I am creating new heavens and a new earth--so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice in my creation! No longer will babies dies when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life."

Romans 8:18-39 (with favorite scriptures quoted)--"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. We too, [along with creation] wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose for them. Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. Neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2 Peter 3:13--"But we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God."

Revelation 21:1-4--"Then I saw a new heaven and a new eath, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying,"Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."