Our Mortality
by Gemma Gardner
Just a week after Easter I heard that a friend of mine had died. She loved the Lord Jesus and was really looking forward to meeting Him. She was totally blind, and she loved telling people that the first person she would be seeing was the Lord Jesus.
Then a fortnight ago, when we were in church, it was announced that another lady I knew well had also died. She too loved the Lord Jesus and had been suffering health problems over many years. Both these ladies were about my age, and I was challenged as I thought about my own life and the fact that I too will die one day, unless the Lord Jesus returns to earth for His Church before.
Dean and I were able to attend the thanksgiving service for this second lady, whom we had been privileged to know. It was a precious time as we worshipped the Lord and heard accounts of our friend’s life, and a testimony she herself had written, telling the details of how she came to put her trust in the Lord. There was mourning over losing someone very dear, but joy too knowing she was now released from her suffering, she was safe with the Lord Jesus, and we will see her again.
Sometimes we can get so bogged down with the issues of this life that we can lose sight of the fact that our Jesus is coming back. If He doesn’t call us to Him first, we will meet Him in the air. Paul told the Thessalonians to encourage one another with the words in our scripture today, and we need to do the same, as we wait. As I think about the Lord coming back, I am frequently asking Him to make me ready. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know where I am going. Do you? If you have trusted in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for you, and are walking in obedience to Him, then Jesus promises that you will be with Him forever.
Gemma Gardner lives in Norfolk with her husband, Dean, who until recently worked at Ellel Grange. They are both part of the Associate Ministry team which Gemma joined after completing the Modular school. Gemma has experienced the Lord`s healing and restoration over many years and longs to see Him healing other broken people. Gemma loves listening to music, cooking, knitting and crochet as well as outdoor exercise. She enjoys playing guitar and singing worship songs.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
