I like this passage of
Scripture – it soothed us greatly when we were told Bob was dying; as my husband
contemplated his impending physical death, he concentrated on exchanging this
present life for his eternal life.
My husband had an
awesome miraculous salvation testimony … and for 37 years, when he regained speech, he recounted it to
everyone that crossed his path. From the time I rushed him to ER and we got the devastating news – to the
last day of his life on Earth: before he could no longer speak those last few
hours the family was gathered around his bed at OHSU … he told people time
and again about how he had died for 25 minutes in 1981, and was resurrected on
the ambulance gurney, tagged for the morgue: he told them that he was “headed
for hell, but Elohim was merciful, and I was saved forever in that moment I was
returned back to life”. Bob lived his life as a solid Christian for the
next 37 years: he never looked back.
From August 30th,
2018 to December 14th, 2018, Bob kept his eyes on Yeshua and looked
forward to our Home in Heaven.
From August 30th to mid-October 2018, Bob was in the local
ER every other day: he’d be kept overnight “for observation”, and sent home for
a day or 2. Death was always stressed to us, and Bob wanted to die at home - it would have been more merciful; but his mother & sisters raised hell about his DNR decision, so he stayed in the hospital to keep them off my back. We understood they were not ready to let him go, but it was wrong for them to try to override me - he eventually forgave them.
By the November 2018 ER visit, Bob was no longer coming home. He was in Peace Health 24/7, and I was camped in his room - refusing to leave. He was transported to OHSU in Oregon, November 24th, 2018: we were at OHSU for 20 days before he went Home. Healing comes in unexpected ways; always for the glory of Elohim.
Bob's passing from this life to the next was peaceful and dignified. Elohim heard our prayers and honored Bob. I miss my husband terribly - but I also smile, knowing he is in a much better place, having a much better life. We were favored - Bob is honored.
From the moment he knew he was going Home, we prayed together - and he asked prayer for me from the visiting Chaplains; we talked of Heaven and tried to imagine what he would be walking into. I played soothing music for him - he liked Southern Gospel. He never allowed the Grim Reaper to torment him: Bob KNEW he would be going Home - he never lost sight of that ... and he talked about that to everyone, not just me. Bob was totally trusting in Yeshua and because of that, he was totally at peace - putting everyone else at ease.
Elohim favored us during this time we walked hand in hand through the shadow of the Valley of Death. I was strong for my husband. Bob was strong for me: together we were strong in Yeshua.
Elohim favored us during this time we walked hand in hand through the shadow of the Valley of Death. I was strong for my husband. Bob was strong for me: together we were strong in Yeshua.
Reading, and preparing
this Scripture passage for today’s study and posting, I am comforted; knowing
the Bob is now clothed in his glorified heavenly body that will never again get
sick, or decay: cheerful and happy in his new home beyond the clouds, with the
lover of our souls, Yeshua Ha’Mashiach.
I am even a little
jealous – not sinfully so, but looking forward myself to that day when I will
join them.
And considering the way
things are going here, on Earth, that may be sooner than later ;-)
2 CORINTHIANS ~ Chapter 5
“We know that this earthly
house of our soul will be destroyed, and that we then shall receive from Elohim
another house, not made with hands, everlasting in Heaven. In our present body
we groan inwardly, and we long to be clothed with the glorified body from
heaven. Then, indeed, on that day we shall be found so clothed, not naked.
While in this body, we groan because of our heavy burdens. It is not that we
want to die and be stripped of our bodies, but rather that we should be clothes
with our new bodies, so that this mortal may be absorbed by immortal life. It
is Elohim Who has prepared us to this end, and He has also given us The Ruach
Ha’Kodesh as a guarantee.
Of this we are always
sure. We know that while we are at home here in the body we are away from
Adonai Yeshua. So we walk by faith, not by sight. We are cheerful, though we
would be more happy to be away from our earthly body and to be at Home with
Adonai Yeshua. And also for that reason we are eager to be found well-pleasing to Him, whether we
are away from Home, or at Home with Him. For we must all be tried before the
judgment-seat of Mashiach, so that each one will be rewarded for what he has
done in this earthly life, whether good or bad.
With men’s fear of
Elohei in our minds, we try to win men for Him. What we really are is known to
Elohei, and so, I hope, we are also known in your consciences. No, we are not
again trying to recommend ourselves to you. Rather, we are giving you an
occasion to recommend us, and this you can do to those who pride themselves on
outward appearances instead of the heart. And if we have been in the spirit, it
was for Elohim; and if we are now in the present, it is for you. It is the love
of Mashiach that controls us. We are convinced that as One died for all, so all
have died. Yes, He died for all, that those who live might no longer live only
for themselves, but for Him, who died for them and was raised again.
From now on, therefore,
we do no elevate a person from a worldly point of view. There was a time when
we regarded Mashiach by such a standard, but we no longer do that. If anyone is
in Mashiach, he is a new creation altogether. The old has passed away and has
become altogether new. Elohei has done it. Through Yeshua Ha’Mashiach He has
reconciled Himself, and He has given us the ministry of reconciliation. When
Elohim, through Yeshua, reconciled the whole world to Himself, He no longer
reckoned man’s sins against them, and He entrusted to us men the message of
reconciliation. Now, we are Mashiach’s Ambassadors. Elohim makes His appeal
through us. So we plead, on behalf of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, be reconciled to Elohim!
For Elohim caused Yeshua, Who had never sinned, to be sin for us; so that in Him
we might receive justification from Elohim.”
