March 23, 2023 - A Cloud of Witnesses

     At Phil’s funeral someone said something close to this, “Phil is now a part of the great cloud of witnesses watching this afternoon.”   That may not be verbatim, but close.   We often hear people say that.
     The great cloud of witnesses that the writer to the Hebrews speaks of in chapter 12 is a reference to the saints of the Old Testament who are listed in Hebrews 11.
     Those saints are not “spectators.”   They are far from spectators.  They are not witnessing what we do now; they have witnessed to the world by their lives what faith must be for the believer, a full surrender to God even when it may result in giving your life for the faith. 
     The writer says that because we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses who have had faith even unto death, then we ought to lay aside whatever may hinder us in our walk with Jesus.
     In that sense, Phil could be listed as a part of the great cloud of witnesses who served and loved God even unto death.  But not as a spectator.  Phil was never a spectator; he was always a participant in what God was doing.
     I believe many folks don’t understand Biblical truth.  I hear it often and as much as we would like to believe that mom or dad or Phil is looking down from heaven watching us, that is far from what the Bible says about the next life.
     Revelation 21 is quite clear.  Heaven will be a place where there is no more mourning or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.
     If our loved ones could look down and see what is happening in our lives there would be lots of mourning and crying and pain.  
     If Phil could look down and see how Janet and his sons are grieving his passing, there would be pain in his heart.
     If my mom had to go through me having cancer a second time there would be as much crying now as she did when she was in this world.  I am thankful that she cannot see what is happening in my life.
     I’ve told this story a couple of times; some of you reading this may have heard me tell it.
     My mother had a love for her family that would be hard to top.  Her greatest desire was to see her children and then her grandchildren give their hearts to Jesus.
     She died with that desire being fulfilled except for one granddaughter.  I am pretty confident that my mom prayed for Jesi most every day that she would surrender her heart to Jesus.  My mom died believing that someday Jesi would trust Jesus as her Savior.
     I had the privilege to baptize Jesi just a few weeks ago.  A few years ago I had the greater privilege of seeing her give her heart to Jesus one Sunday morning when she came to Daybreak.
     A few weeks after Jesi’s decision I had a vision of heaven.  It wasn’t like you might think.   Just a vision of what might be happening in heaven.
     Twice Jesus says these words in Luke 15: “I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
     Here’s the vision.  It’s quite believable if you believe that Jesus says that the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents.
     I could “see” the angels gathering around the throne for a time of rejoicing.   I could “hear” the arch angel reading the names of people from around the world, sinners who had repented and trusted Jesus as their Savior.
     “Kim Soo, Korea.”  And there would be this shout of rejoicing.
     “April Jones, England.” Another shout of rejoicing.
 
     On and on this vision went of people’s names and some idea of their locations around the world.
 
     And then the vision came home.   I heard this name called:
 
      “Jessica Stumbo, Kentucky.”  And the angels rejoiced with a shout.
 
     And right up there near the throne I could see my mom’s face.  I believe she is up near the throne because Jesus said the last of this world in the world’s eyes would be one of the firsts in heaven’s eyes.  I could see the joy on my mother’s face. 
     Somehow in the communication of heaven, I believe Jesi was brought to my mom’s remembrance.  And she knew and knows that someday Jesi will walk through the gate.  And when that day comes there will be more rejoicing in heaven.