It is good to see businesses begin to open up again as the coronavirus diminishes. Restaurants are serving meals outside and hair stylists are clipping, curling, and setting hair again again. Crops have been planted. Much time and money has been lost. The future looks bright again, although many have died around the world from the virus.

Death will come to us all. Psalm 73:26 reads, "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Our flesh, that is the body we live in, is wasting away. I have had a severe back sprain for two weeks now. Maybe you notice me limping in church. It is something I've had occasionally since my mid twenties. I know how to deal with it, but it is a nagging reminder that my body and everything else I love about the world is falling apart. One day my soul will be separated from my body. Not a pleasant thought, yet, all along God has told me  this is how it will be.

God also tells me that he is preparing a place for me in heaven. This is not because I am a pastor, preach His word to you, try to be nice, or give donations to charity. I have a place in heaven because God loves me, knows I am a sinner, and did something about it. He gave His Son to die for me and for the rest of the people in the world. Because of Jesus I know that one day my body will be raised without a back problem or any other hindrance. When Jesus returns he will raise the dead and change those still living so that they will have a glorified body. All of this comes when we trust him to save us. Faith in Jesus is the key to eternal bliss.

When we are troubled it is good to think about such things. Troubles will always be with us. Just pay a visit to a nursing home or a hospital for sick children. We can ignore death, but it comes to all of us one day. Suffering is with us now, but not forever. My heart is cheered when I think of how much God loves us, what he did for us on the cross, and where he is promising to take us after death. Heaven is my home.

Pastor Wright