Sad For 'Good-byes, But thankful for Eternity Together - Through Jesus

The past week has been a time of ‘good-byes.” Last Friday and Saturday, September 6 and 7, I bid farewell to Fred and Kelly Vasilie and also Wayne and Mary Mize , friends in Sterling, Alaska. These are folks who share with me common interests-love of the outdoors, and faith in Jesus. We have known each other for years and shared experiences of faith, family, and of fun together. We speak often with one another about our Lord, Jesus. But, Kathy and I are on our way back to Gainesville, Florida, where I am serving as vacancy pastor at First Lutheran Church. While we do connect by phone and text, it’s not like being in the same room, or in the same boat, talking and sharing. So, we bid our farewells. “Good-bye, Friends.”

In a different way, Kathy and I also said good-bye to our dog, Matanuska, or Mat. Wayne and Mary keep Mat while we’re in Florida. I think he should love the Mize’s house, and he is comfortable there. Wayne and Mary have a bigger yard than we do, and other dogs for Mat to play with. They give him lots of attention, and feed him dog food with many extra goodies on top. But, as I got ready to leave, Mat stood by the fence gate, looking at my vehicle. He didn’t want me to leave. He wanted to get in my truck and come with me. “Good-bye for now,” Mat!

In worship at St. John Lutheran in Palmer on Sunday, September 8, there were more good-byes. After Adult Bible Class, many came to wish us well in Florida. It was wonderful to see worship full on Sunday. But, as we stood around after church, many folks came from across the room to bid their “farewells,” each in their own way. One of our long-time musicians and friends, Sara Guhl, let both Kathy and I know, in no uncertain terms, that she was not happy we are leaving. “Good-bye, Friends.”

Sunday noon, after worship, our 4 children, and their families, all 14 of us, gathered for brunch at our home. We ate, and talked, and picked on each other, and laughed. We shared love. I think this farewell was somehow harder on Kathy than previous times we have left our children. But we will be back. “Good-bye for now. We love you!”

Sunday evening, long-time friend, Pastor Paul Birner and his daughter, Amy, spent the night. Paul was pastor in Anchorage in 1991 when we came to serve at St. John in Palmer. We have shared much over the years, including the service of our Lord, and a love of fishing. In addition, Dave and Marilee Nufer went to school with Paul and his wife, Kirsten, in the 1980’s at Concordia University, Portland. So the Nufers and Birners joined us for supper. Then, the next morning, Pastor Tony Schultz, whom I have known since 1971, joined Paul and I at the golf course. But, after time together on Sunday and Monday, we all said good bye. Daughter, Mary, drove Kathy and me to the airport, and we flew to Florida. “Farewell for now!”

This all sounds sad, but our travel is not just “good-bye.” We have people we care about, and people who care for us, in Florida. My mom and dad and my siblings moved to Gainesville in July of 1965, almost 60 years ago. We have lots of family in the area who have let us know they are glad we are returning. And, while we love the people of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, we also love the people at First Lutheran Church in Gainesville. This is the congregation I attended with my family in my Junior High and High School years. I still know some old-timers at First Lutheran. And we’ve come to have a loving Christian relationship with many others. Kathy and I aren’t just saying “good-bye”, but “Hello, again,” to folks we care about.

Kathy and I have often said to one another that we are truly blessed. When we leave Alaska, people aren’t asking us, “When are you going to leave?” because they want to get rid of us. When we leave Florida, people are not wanting us to go, but sad to see us leave. What a blessing. We just need to learn to be thankful for loving family and friends in many places, even though we are sad to say good-bye to those we love.

That is one of my favorite things about heaven. Jesus said, “2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3) After this life, we will live in heaven with Jesus. God also comforts us in Revelation 21, “3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4) Heaven is not just deliverance from the sin and pain, the tears and the death of this world. In heaven we will live in the presence of THE one who loves us, forever! And for all our family members and friends who know and believe in Jesus, we will be together forever. We no longer need to say good-bye. We have eternity to live in the presence and glory and love of God together. We have eternity with one another, spending as much time with one another as we want.

God’s children want to be thankful for this gift of eternal life. Jesus has faced sin and defeated it when He died on the cross. Jesus has defeated death when He rose from the grave. In grace Jesus offers ETERNAL life when we trust His saving life and death and resurrection. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Kathy and I know that God has truly blessed us, that we have family and friends whom we love, and who love us, in various locations. But, even in this blessing, there is a sadness in saying “good-bye.” Maybe the Germans have it right when they say, “Auf Wiedersehen,” “until we see each other again.” Thankfully, because of Jesus, that is not just a hope, but it is reality.