MAY 28, 2012
The Gathering
Read: Revelation
7:9-17
The Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd [us] and lead
[us] to living
fountains of waters. —Revelation
7:17
During Oswald Chambers’ service as a YMCA
chaplain in Egypt (1915–1917),
he touched the lives of many soldiers who died in
World War I. On November 6, 1916, Chambers wrote in his diary: “We have a
letter from a New Zealand friend telling us that Ted Strack has been killed.
And so Ted Strack has ‘gone to be with Jesus.’ That is just how he would have
put it . . . . [He] was a rough beauty of
nature and of grace, a fearless,
loveable little saint. Thank God for every remembrance of him . . . . So they
are gathering one by one.”
As we grieve the death of those we love, we
cling to Jesus’ promise of life beyond
the grave. The book of Revelation
records John’s vision of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, and
language gathered around God’s throne in heaven (7:9).
The overarching truth of
this passage is a glad, eternal reunion when “the Lamb
who is in the midst of
the throne will shepherd [us] and lead [us] to living
fountains of waters”
(v.17).
The passing of every believer in Christ
foreshadows the day when we will join
them with the Lord. In our sadness today,
we are hopeful as we see that “they
are gathering one by one.”
Beyond the sunset, O glad
reunion
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting—
Beyond the sunset forevermore. —Brock
Goodbyes are the law of
earth; reunions are the law of heaven.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
