No More Goodbyes - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 18
The Crosswalk Devotional
Audio By Carbonatix
By Alexis A. Goring, Crosswalk.com
No More Goodbyes
By: Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 NIV
A few years ago, one of my author friends shared that the doctors told them it was time to say goodbye to their daughter because there was nothing else the hospital staff could do to revive her life. Reluctantly and with deep sorrow, they said their final goodbye to their young daughter who had died.
This sad story made me think of how there will come a time when we who believe in God and are faithful followers of Jesus Christ will never need to say goodbye to loved ones ever again because we will be in immortal bodies living in the presence of our Savior (Jesus Christ) in Heaven.
It also reminds me of the song “Goodbye for Now” by Kathy Troccoli. Kathy opens the song singing from the perspective of someone who has lost a loved one. It feels surreal, like a dream. They cannot believe that their loved one is no longer living. That person was their world, and they feel like they cannot continue living without them. It’s to the point where they feel dead inside. She sings about how much she misses her loved one through the changing seasons of life. But then, she remembers that she has hope because, for faithful followers of Jesus Christ, death is not the conclusion. She knows that there will be a time when she will see her loved one again (when they are reunited in Heaven). Joy quickens her voice as she says how she looks forward to being reunited with her loved one and seeing their face, hearing their voice, and laughing together again. She looks forward to holding them close and never shedding a tear of sadness again because in Heaven, they will live forever and never have to say goodbye again. How she longs for that day! But for now, as she lives on Earth, she knows she has to say goodbye.
Saying goodbye to someone you love is never easy, even if you’re just saying it before you go on a journey, but have every intention of returning and seeing them alive before they die. I think that deep inside our hearts as humans, we know that we were made for eternity, and death was not part of God’s original plan for humankind. We can read the Bible story about Adam and Eve, who brought sin and death into this world when they disobeyed God. God made them perfect in every way. They were healthy, happy, and surrounded by beauty in the Garden of Eden. They were allowed to eat the fruit on every single tree, except one tree: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told them not to touch it nor eat its fruit because if they did, they would die (Genesis 2:16-17). Quite often, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the Garden. They tended to the garden and enjoyed their perfect marriage that God ordained. All was right with the world until one day, Satan deceived them and led Eve to disobey God by touching and eating the forbidden fruit. She shared it with Adam, who ate it too, and then everything went downhill. Sin entered this world, and with it came disease, sickness, death, and what could have been eternal separation from God. But God, in His mercy and loving kindness, made a salvation plan to rescue humankind—He promised to send His Son (Jesus Christ) to save our souls and reconcile us to Him (John 3:16-17).
Because of Adam and Eve’s transgression, all humans are sinful from the moment of conception and after birth (Psalm 51:5). The Bible says that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Scripture also says the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) but that verse ends with a note of hope saying, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). Jesus Christ completed God’s plan to save human souls (John 3:16). He made a way for us to be reconciled to God and experience eternity in perfection again, but this time it will last forever.
While we are experiencing this imperfect life on Earth, we and our loved ones in our mere mortal bodies will eventually die, and we will have to say goodbye for now. However, we can cling to hope in Christ because we know that we will be reunited with loved ones and God in Heaven for all eternity. It is a hope worth living for. There are two songs that inspired this message. In conclusion, I encourage you to listen to these beautiful, soul-soothing melodies.
Song of Reflection #1: “Goodbye for Now” by Kathy Troccoli. Listen Here
Song of Reflection #2: “No More Pain” by Point of Grace. Listen Here
Intersecting Faith & Life:
How do you feel to know that one day you will never have to say goodbye to a loved one again?
Further Reading:
Isaiah 53:5
Psalm 32:1
John 14:2-4
Revelation 21:1-4
Revelation 22:1-5
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PeopleImages
Alexis A. Goring is an author, blogger, editor, photographer, trained journalist, and total foodie. She specializes in Contemporary Christian Romance (fiction) and devotionals (nonfiction). Her first devotional book, Stories and Songs of Faith: My Journey with God, was published in April 2020. Alexis hopes that her life’s work will lead people to Jesus Christ and teach them about the God who loves humankind with all of His heart. When she’s not sharing words that inspire and encourage the heart, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up something tasty, or in a café or restaurant, either dining solo or sharing a meal with loved ones. Connect with Alexis online via her website (https://alexisagoring.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: 9 Confusing Things about God– Answered By a Christian Philosopher
How can God be all-present (omnipresent) and yet be located in the temple and indwell believers? How can God know everything (omniscient) if He doesn't know what it is like to sin? How can God be a necessary Being if it is logically possible He doesn't exist? These are just a few of the tough, philosophical questions Sean McDowell discusses with William Lane Craig.
