Friends in Christ: I lost a very dear Christian friend recently that I hope to see soon on the other side. This is written in his memory, as Christian friends are hard to come by lately. It may be weird to say, but I envy him that he is now with Jesus and we are still down here in this chaotic maelstrom with our only seeming hope of things getting better is our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). He used to walk amongst us, Many considered him a friend, We searched the dates together, As we got closer to the end. But the wind has changed direction, And the waves now splash the pier, All the places we thought would never change, Now echo voices we used to hear. Acquaintances from the past, All too often fade away, As the leaves of the trees change their color, Tomorrow will be different than yesterday. It’s not those rivers that flow through time, Or neglected bridges that are to blame, As people grow they change as well, Nothing can ever be the same. One day we will reunite and embrace again, The shadows of familiarity still burning within, Though our paths diverged down different roads, Our future in Eternity will soon begin. The friendships of old will burn anew, A wonderful new paradigm without any care, The temporal schism that separates us now, Will soon give way to Paradise that we all will share. May God give us strength to endure until the end and may He come soon so that we can be reunited with our loved ones. God bless you all! Humbly Humbly, I am truly sorry for your loss. That was a great tribute! May God let your friend know of the tribute. I have seen so many people die, every age; from birth to the aged; believers and non believers; friends, colleagues, acquaintances, family, and patients. It is never easy for those left. I would agree that many times I too have envied the believer to have gone on first. Never having wished them back, even with the pain and heartache that may have accompanied the death. Many of us look forward to the day when the sting of death is finally gone. :prayer-hands: Thank you Tammie! Subsequent to my Christian friend passing away, I just had another friend pass away this weekend. He was NOT saved. Years ago, I tried to witness to him, but he told me not so politely to leave and not come back into his house until I promised not to preach to him again. I honored that wish and we continued to be friends. However, now as I reflect upon it, just as my friend told me to leave his house and not come back, Jesus told him upon death to leave the Father's House and not come back. It is painful to think about the suffering that he is now enduring -- and will be enduring for eternity. He was a decent man, although not saved (like so many in our world). I don't know if I can ever truly come to terms with this horrible scenario of my friends and family members burning in agony in eternity while I am still here on this earth in a mortal body. I tried to witness to them, but they would have nothing to do with it. Like I said in another thread -- you can't drag people kicking and screaming to a saving faith in Jesus: they each have to come to that conclusion on their own. When they don't, I guess that is on them. Not much we can do about it. It is just so, so sad! Humbly My condolences as well! You may still be surprised once we get up there! TR Very sorry for your loss as well. Humbly. As for the death of the wicked, we know that the Lord takes no pleasure in it. And yet, as I have often said to others over years, the only people who are going to end up in heaven with Jesus are those who want to be there. The Lord is not going to drag people in against their will. Man's free will continues to operate within the permissive sovereignty of a holy and righteous King. How utterly tragic that the vast majority of humanity will choose the broad path that leads to destruction, while the narrow path that leads to life will eternally remain by far the road less traveled. Some days, and seemingly more frequently of late, these verses from Chapter 22 in the Book of Revelation seem like they are applicable to today: 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Maranatha!!! 
Beautifully written. :good: :prayer-hands:
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
