FROM THE PASTOR
July 23, 2017
This week was a pretty quiet week. Connie and I drove to Marietta, Ohio on Monday so we could pick up my mother on Tuesday from a 5 week visit at her sister’s house in North Carolina. Since it is a little too far for a one-day round trip we stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Akron on Monday evening. And because we had not scheduled to meet up until 1:00 PM we decided to get up early and go on down to Amish Country and have breakfast.
As we entered Holmes County a flood of memories rushed in. When Connie, I and the girls lived in Ohio from 1988 to 1994 our home was just two counties north of Holmes County and we made the short drive to Amish Country on a frequent basis. It’s hard to believe but it has been 23 years since our family moved away. Still we recognized much of what we saw and connected our past to the present. Of all the gifts that God has given us I believe our memories are among the most significant.
Over the years I have had several opportunities to participate in discussions concerning what we will and won’t be able to remember when we’re in heaven. Perhaps the most asked question is, “Will we recognize our loved ones in heaven?”
Concerning that question, “Will we recognize our loved ones in heaven?”, I would respond that the Bible does not specifically state that we will. However, there are verses and biblical historical record that give strong credence that ‘yes, we will’. At the transfiguration those present recognized Moses and Elijah, Saul recognized Samuel after Samuel had died and was summoned by the witch of Endor and the Apostles and others recognized the Lord after His resurrection. We also know that Scripture indicates that the same body to die will be the same body raised glorified. This is all strong evidence that, since we remain recognizable, our memory of recognition will remain. The answer to the logical follow-up question might be, “Will we recognize ‘everyone’ in heaven?” Unfortunately, scripture does not specifically address this question either so we will have to wait and see.
Memories are a good gift. They do tie the past to the present in so many ways. Knowing that fact makes the following verse that much more significant.
Colossians 3:17 (NASB)
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
So, it’s not really, “What will you remember?” rather it’s “How will you be remembered?”
Thank You for your faithfulness! Pastor Larry
