Land of The Living

I grew up in Kentucky, USA in a little town of Roley. I remember receiving mail that simply said my name and Casey Creek, KY.  We had a small-town post office with one person on staff, the postmaster – Mr. Ed Walker.  Everyone knew everyone and everyone mostly knew everyone else’s business. My Grandparents lived close by as did several aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was a beautiful area to grow up and I learned a lot about hard work, honesty, and integrity – my values even today. My grandparents died and many people I knew as a kid. I remember the tremendous loss I felt when my Pappy and Mammie died. I loved them deeply and they loved me. They were fantastic grandparents. It has been many years since their departure from this life and into the next.

Jesus is challenged by the Sadducees, a sect of the Jewish culture that didn’t believe in the resurrection. His answer to them reminded me of how I should view eternal life. Check this out….

²⁶ “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’  ²⁷ So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.” (Mark 12: 26-27 NLT)

The dying people of this earth still live. They now live in the land of the living. This earth is the land of the dying.  The death rate here on earth is 100%. I’m trying to be morbid or dark by any stretch. I’m trying to inspire hope that there is more than just this life. Eternal life is the land of the living. Earth is the land of the dying.

I believe Jesus came to equip us and prepare us for eternity. It is my understanding that how we live this life determines our eternal destination. This life in the land of the dying is preparatory for the land of the living. God created the land of the dying and He’s also the Creator of the Land of the Living.  I’m looking forward to meeting Jesus, of course. I also look forward to meeting Moses, Abraham, and King David among others.

I’m not trying to be weird, but I’m trying to come to terms with short life that we have here on earth. Recently, I’ve gone to the visitation of a young mom who died of cancer. She is now living in the Presence of God. I believe she lived her life well here in the land of the dying. It sure feels like she left too soon. I’m trying to gain an eternal perspective on life here in the land of the dying. I have lots to do today or even this week, but I must keep my eye on eternity while doing my daily or weekly work. The goal is to honor the Lord in everything I do because eternal life with Him is the big prize!

Pressing On!

Dwayne