For Me To Live Is Christ And To Die Is Gain

4. We gain a better fellowship.

“All of us in this world live in a dissolving family circle. Mother is gone, or father is gone, or a child is gone, or our beloved grandparents are gone, or friends are gone. If we live long enough, we shall be strangers in this earth. Everyone we knew and loved will be gone. But the circle is unbroken in heaven, forever and ever. There is no death there, no more sorrow and crying and pain, for all of this is passed away.” (Criswell’s Guidebook for Pastors, W. A. Criswell. Broadman Press, 302).

Oh, can you imagine what it will be like in heaven, getting to see Jesus, the One Who lived and died for us? Can you imagine what it will be like, meeting the saints of old? Talking to David about fighting Goliath. Talking to Shamrock, Meshack and Abednigo about what it was like in the fiery furnace, or to Daniel about his time in the lion’s den?

What a great time of fellowship that will be. Oh, but one of the best times, next to seeing our Savior, will be reunited with our family and friends who have gone before us.

The older I get, the more I look forward to getting to the other side, and seeing all of my friends and family who have gone before me. What a reunion that will be!

Remember that old song Johnny Cash used to sing?

I remember when I was a lad

Times were hard and things were bad

But there's a silver linin' behind every cloud

Just poor people, that 's all we were

Tryin' to make a living out of black-land dirt

But we'd get together in a family circle singing loud

Daddy sang bass, mama sang tenor

Me and little brother would join right in there

Singing seems to help a troubled soul

One of these days and it won't be long

I'll rejoin them in a song

I'm gonna join the family circle at the throne

Oh, the joy of that great reunion.

Oh, believers will gain better bodies. They will gain better homes. They will gain a better inheritance, and they will gain a better fellowship. I look forward to heaven. I look forward to that reunion, and I look forward to George showing us around, showing us all of the plants and flowers he has and teaching the names of all of his pets. What a great day that will be.

Oh Mr. George, this is not goodbye, but rather, until we meet again.

Prayer.