The Inconsolable Longing, Part Two
September 27th, 2008 Posted in encouragement, family, Harvest Crusades, Pastor's corner, questions, sermons, travel
Jonathan and Christopher Laurie in 2005.
That will be the title in my message this Sunday at Harvest. It will be the third in a trilogy of messages that I have in essence preached to myself after the sudden departure of my son Christopher to heaven.
One thing I have thought about lately: if a life is cut short, is that it? What if a life is hampered by disability or illness? Or shorter than what we had hoped for, due to death, like when a child dies, or a young man or woman? They had no control over these circumstances. Are these people just ones who just lose?
Then you see other people, living out their lives to advanced years and doing nothing with them or, worse yet, living wicked lives.
We are immortal
Don’t forget that life is not just the time we have on earth for our short stay here. We are immortal and, according to the Bible, we as Christians will live forever in God’s presence.
We will go to heaven when we die as Christians, but we will also see God’s kingdom come to earth when Christ returns, where we will live and reign with Him for 1000 years.
We will be busy in the future
We will not be idle during our time in heaven or earth. We will be busy, doing the Lord’s work (see Revelation 7:15; 22:3).
You wonder if we will be able to finish some of the tasks that remain incomplete on Earth. Or perhaps dreams that were shattered here will be fulfilled then.
Listen, God will not waste or squander any life or gifts. Death for the believer is not the end of life, but a continuation of it in another place. He has other places and times when those gifts may be fulfilled. How, we do not know.
I will be speaking on this and more this Sunday at Harvest. To find out more about this, tune in or watch the archived webcast. Click here to find out more about our webcasts.
Down to earth talk about heaven
The Greater Philadelphia Harvest is only days away. The dates are October 3-5.
One of the slogans used on the billboards has been “Down To Earth Talk About Heaven!” My son Christopher oversaw the design of this campaign, and little did we know when we chose that phrase how significant it would become, as it seems I have talking a lot about heaven lately.
For more info on the Greater Philadelphia Harvest, click here.
You will see Christopher again. We are just going through here. “Tomorrow is promised to no man” is a lesson to live today, say I love you more, today, “TODAY is the day” He said. Continue to be a good example Greg even the elite in the church are falling.
Mimi Villegas Galdi
Dear Pastor Greg,
I, for one, am glad you have been talking a lot about heaven lately, for I have been “longing for heaven” since 1:15 A.M. on March 17, 2007, when I watched my father die the death of a Christian. Like you, I know he is in heaven, and I am comforted knowing he will be there when my time comes too.
Somehow, by the grace of God, I found your daily program on WILL in Chicago, which I listen to at work. As weird as it may sound, you sharing your grief helped me learn to go back to Jesus to share mine. I could relate so well with the emotions you described. I have since ordered many of your sermons on CD. They have comforted me so I just ordered four more. Can’t wait to get them. I have rededicated my life to Jesus, and recently witnessed to two Mormon missionaries.
So, you see, Christopher’s death was surely not in vain. It brought another “prodigal” home.
I will continue to keep your family in my prayers. Thank you, and may God richly bless you!
Deborah Yoder
Chicago, Illinois
(and yes, the s is silent!)
Pastor Greg, I lived in Corona, Ca for my entire life. And my husband and our 2 sons moved to Colorado on Aug. 3rd. It was such a sad day, when we heard the news of the loss of your son Christopher. As, my husband and I have been prayerfully on our knees with raising our sons. Your loss is so big and we have been praying for you and all of your family, as we cannot imagine the pain and the sorrow you are in. We pray that the Lord comfort you all and give you His strength not only during this difficult present time. But, through the years to come.
Our son, who turned 18 July 30th, totaled our new vehicle on August 30th. And when we received the phone call that he had rolled the car, we couldn’t get to the accident fast enough. All that was running through my mind was you and your families loss, As it has been heavy on my heart. And when we arrived to see that he was fine, just in shock. This happened at about 11 am. All I could think on the drive to our son, was that horrible thought and feeling, that only a parent can imagine, the loss of the life of their child. And to see the vehile mangled as it was. I could care less about the vehicle. My only thought was Lord, just let Brandon be alive.
You and your families loss of Christopher hit me so deeply, I shared your broadcast of your first sermon after his going home to be with the Lord, I believe it was either the following Monday or Tuesday with both of my sons. Because your message was to not take life for granted, especially the young. Your testimony of your loss, your pain and sorrow has helped me realize how vulnerable we all are, vulnerable may not be the word that I’m looking for, but, tragedies, we are all subject to. And through this, my walk with the Lord, which I thought was a good one, has begun to grow much more. And it still has much more to go. And I know that your message that I shared with my sons, had a real impact on the both of my sons. Especailly my 15 year old. As I am so grieved for your loss, that truly weighs so deeply on my heart. I want to Thank you, for sharing your grief and testimony with your flock and all the world. Because I know how it has touched our lives.
Thank you again so much. God used you to bring me to the Lord in September of 1981, at Calvary Chapel Riverside. I went to watch the movie “A thief in the night”, I was all of 14 years old. I Thank you again, for being such a wonderful servant of the Lord. It is because of your obedience, that you have touched so many lives. And helped to make Heaven a much more populated place. Again, I say to you, I continue to pray that the Lord be with you and all of your family, providing you with His peace, strength and protection.
Love in Christ,
Monica
Dear Pastor Greg,
I just wanted you to know that I have been praying for you and your family ever since Christopher went home! I tried to tell you that during third service, many blessings to you and your family. Your have really put a wonderful perspective on how heaven will be and I can’t wait to see the Lord and spend eternity with Him and my loved ones.
Thanks Pastor,
Ebbie
just watched and listen on line what an incredible blessing
i will keep pray for you family
Pastor Greg, I have a disability and often asked why me? I’ve quit asking why and realized God knows best. I was born a healthy baby and when I was eight months old recieved my polio vaccination and contracted the disease. The doctor’s told my parents that it was because my immune system was down because of a cold I had at the time. It was in the 60′s and polio was eradicated in the U.S. by then.I always felt sorry for myself, and thought that stunk for me. I was told before, by a well meaning Christian, “How can you bring God any glory when you are limping around in life? You need faith that God can heal you.” Yes, I know God is able to heal and I have asked him on several occasions to heal me. But for whatever reason he hasn’t. I’ve always thought myself inferior to others and do suffer from low-self esteem. I am looking foward to your words of wisdom.
Danna
Hi Greg,
I wanted to tell you personally how sorry I am for your loss. I saw your whole family at Lou Lou’s in Montana and introduced myself, but didn’t say anything because I felt like you all didn’t need to be reminded of your pain. Then I came home and read your blog and felt so bad for not mentioning Christopher’s death and my deepest sympathy.
You said that worse than saying something stupid is not saying anything. I feel like I missed an opportunity to share and talk to you, because my friend that was with me had lost her son seven years ago, when he was 26, and it might had been a blessing to the both of you to meet. I was sad to think that God might have set up a divine appointment and I missed it.
It’s hard to bring up someone’s loss, especially since you didn’t know who I was and I feel like I know you so well. I have been attending Harvest for 25 years and I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t think of anything to say to break the ice.
So anyway I want to say I am sorry for thinking of the awkward situation I was in. I thought it was so amazing to see all of you in Montana, and I enjoy the pictures Christopher took here this year. I am glad you are sharing them. Was Montana one of his favorite places? It’s one of mine and I hope to live here full time someday.
God Bless You and your family. I have been praying for you and will continue to.
Love
Wendy Parks
Hi Laurie family,
I’m still praying for you!
Love,
Veronica
Dear Brother Greg,
It’s awesome to ponder this, as you say: …will we “be able to finish some of the tasks that remain incomplete on Earth…”
What a concept! I look forward to hearing what you have to say on this topic, and hope Sunday’s message will be available online. Your parish is so lucky.
At my favorite cousin’s dad’s funeral yesterday, mostly everyone talked about the awesome job he did while he lived. Everyone told about how many things they still longed to do in their own lives. Wether traveling, learning, working… all seemed to be made aware, by death, of how much they still needed and wanted to “do”!
Maybe heaven will be a place for “doers”.
-I sure hope so, because God’s getting all my squirmy relatives.
But He’s God, and he can deal, right?
Shalom,
Lori
this is a great photo
we will be praying for this weekend service look forward to hearing it.
yesterday on the radio i was driving to work and just wanted to start sobbing when the young boy at the end of your message was interviewed at the harvest crusade and saying how he was arrested after his 18th bday and his mom talked and just thanked God and thanked you and was weeping and her son too.
how the prodigal is returned to Christ
how i look forward to the answered prayer for my son too.
pray for joseph
i will keep praying for your family too
We love you, are praying for you all, crying with you, and very much miss Christopher.
-The Jacobsen Family
Pastor Greg,
Sounds like it’s going to be a great message. See you tomorrow at Harvest. You and you’re family are still in my thoughts and prayers.
p.s. Your sons are so handsome:o)
Thank you for your words of comfort about Heaven, our true home. May you continue to be comforted and strengthened as your preach on Sunday and at the Harvest Crusade in Philly.
You say we will be busy and productive in Heaven. I think how delighted your son must be right now. He continues to co-labor with you in sharing the gospel through his art work and design. Now he has the best seat in the house to watch the results.
We love you Pastor Greg and we bless your whole beautiful family in their loss.
The Johnsons in Maui
Pastor Greg,
Once again, your message is inspiring to me.
To be forever in God’s presence is amazing to me and hard to grasp at times, but I know someday it will happen.
Blessings to you and your family. We continue to keep you in our prayers.
Becky