The Ultimate Reunion

Take a moment and think about one of your most memorable reunions. Before you read any further, grab that memory and let your mind go back in time. Do you feel your heart swell and perhaps your eyes water a little remembering it?

I have one that stands out in my mind. I had been very close friends with a woman for about 7 years when we had a big disagreement. The disagreement itself is irrelevant for the sake of this blog, but I can tell you that I was the one who actually made the decision to sever our relationship. It broke my heart and we didn’t speak and had very little contact for almost five years. Then one day, moved by something I read, and, I believe, the Holy Spirit, there was realization that by withdrawing my friendship, I had sinned against my friend and lost what was a very deep and meaningful relationship. I called her up to apologize and she graciously extended forgiveness to me right there in that moment. The subsequent conversations we had the following days and weeks lead us to meet in Nashville – a mid-point between the cities where we each lived. I got there at the meeting spot before my friend and nervously waited for her. She arrived. I remember hugging, crying and laughing all at once in the middle of the parking lot. It was an amazing reunion! My eyes are filling with tears right now just recalling that day.

Have you thought about heaven lately? Consider the amazing reunion that is waiting for you there! I think of actually being in the presence of God…it’s hard to fathom that but I try to have some sort of mental picture in my head. I imagine standing in the presence of my Father, whom I’ve loved since I was a teenager, who has literally been through it ALL with me. I have talked with Him, laughed with Him, cried many tears with Him, sung to Him … and at our meeting we will be face to face. I visualize a tender yet wholly embracing hug that seems to erase all the years of hurt and pain of living in this fallen world. I envision looking into his eyes and as a tear rolls down my cheek, his hand wiping it away. Of course this is just my fantasy of what that reunion will be like, but I’m sure it will be beyond anything I can conceive. Knowing I am working toward that moment motivates me to be pure hearted and righteous in every way that I can be.

2 Peter 3:13-14 says, 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

I am tempted to get caught up in the everyday struggles that seem so prevalent in my life; the overwhelming responsibility of raising my girls, being a good friend, excelling at my job…and the list goes on. I have to bring my eyes back to Jesus and to the reunion that awaits me. If I do that, I know the other things will fall into place.

I’m going to sit here for a while this morning, eyes closed, thinking of the gathering that is ahead of me. Then I’m going to get up, with a full heart, and live today as if that reunion were taking place at the end of it.