Proverbs 14: 32 Do you think about "it"?

Well, do you? Has someone that you were close to, died? Have you wondered about "it"? Have you got fears? Would you rather not talk about "it"?

Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you are not alone! I believe that all of us have been touched in some way, by death; either in our family, or a friend of our family.

And, if we are honest, we probably all will admit that we have wondered about it. Some people are really, really frightened, and others would prefer to change the subject.

I'll be honest with you --- I've thought about this more in the past couple of years than in all the years previous. Why? Because my daddy-in-law passed away. The guy that I looked up to and loved with all my heart, who was my daddy ever since I married his youngest son, and my folks moved about a million miles away. (OK, OK, it was just to Wyoming, but that IS a long, long way from me!)

I'm putting all the cards out here on the table for you, alright? And they are all face up . . . no secrets between us. The devil was beginning to get to me. He had me worrying about what happens, and how it happens, and when it happens, and, at one point I hit rock bottom and wondered if there really even was going to be anything beyond that last closing of the eyes. That. Was. The. Pits.

Do you know how I shoved that ole devil back out of the way? I'm going to tell you, because if I can help just one person with this issue, I'll be thrilled.

You see, I was reading and found some verses that really helped me, and one of them was this:

Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Here are some others:
Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
Joh 14:2b-3 I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1Pe 3:22  Who (Christ) is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;

These verses helped me throw the devil out on his ear --- it's plain to me that since Jesus has saved me and made me righteous, I have hope; I will be with Him forever, and since He is in heaven at the right hand of God, that is where I will end up, too! You see, I accept on faith that this is so. I don't have to worry about rabbit trails that some like to travel down, about whether you are immediately in heaven, or if you are asleep in the arms of the Lord for a while (sounds good to me, too), or whether those who have died can see what we do on earth, because I simply have faith that God will do what He says. He is faithful. It is not in His character to say something and not follow through! You may say my faith is child-like --- some may even say it is childish, but I'm not concerned with what other people say! And here is one more thing:
Remember the question in Matthew? Who among you, (I'm paraphrasing here, OK?) if your child asked for bread, would give him a snake? In other words, you are parents, would you give your innocent child something harmful, something bad? NO!
Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
So, if God is the best parent ever, and we are His children, then heaven is going to be the most awesome place -- far more than you can imagine. No need to argue about whether the streets will be gold or inlaid pearl ... whatever it looks like, sounds like, feels like --- it's going to be far better than the best times you have had here on earth! That is the hope of the righteous. It's also a promise from God. It's another one of those that you can hang your hat on.