This is Eternal Life…

My mind is reeling today. My precious friend, Joyce Waid, was promoted to glory. The promotion was so very unexpected because she had just been declared in remission after a battle with lung cancer. My sweet sister had a pep in her step yesterday morning and that signature Joyce smile. Yes, it seemed her battle had been won.

Last night, as I gathered with friends over Joyce’s “tent”, her earthly body, I couldn’t help but think of these verses from 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groanand are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Joyce packed up her tent last night and walked right into glory. Her earthly tent was most definitely swallowed up by LIFE, not death. We forget that this life is not the reality, it is only the shadow of the good things to come. Let’s not get too comfortable in this body because it is not our home. A tent is not a permanent residence, right? It is just a structure to get us from here to there.

Joyce walked by faith while she lived out her life of passion on this earth. Now she is walking by SIGHT! Can I get a hallelujah? If we asked her right now what she prefers – her earthly tent or her home with the Lord – I know what she would choose! Not because of all of the splendor of heaven either, but because of what John 17:3 tells us, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

My sweet Joycie – I rejoice in the knowledge that you are in the presence of God and the One who saved you and placed that passion in you, Jesus Christ. And while we grieve for your presence on this earth along with your precious family, I don’t consider your home-going a lost battle. You won my sister – you won!