For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:8-9)

To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus. (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

From our perspective, we were standing as if on a beach, watching them sail away as on a ship. As the ship departs, we say goodbye and the ship shrinks smaller and smaller into the distance as it sails into the sunset. It is soon out of sight and we think, “There they go. They’re gone.” But there is another perspective — one from the other shore, the destination where this ship’s journey ends. On that shore there are others waiting, and they see the ship grow larger and larger until it arrives. And they say, “Here they are. Welcome home.”

When they departed, we had to say goodbye. They were gone. But in heaven the Lord Jesus was waiting. And they were welcomed home.

Our three loved ones suffer no more pain,
For to live is Christ and to die is great gain.
They’ve been freed from this life’s fetter
To be with Christ, which is so much better.

On Saturday Becky was with her family contemplating life and age,
On Sunday she flew to Jesus like a bird finally freed from her cage.
On Saturday Lauren was with her cousins paddling on the water,
On Sunday she was with Jesus beside the crystal river.
On Saturday Daniel was with his cousins hiking trails so big and bold,
On Sunday he was with Jesus walking the streets of gold.

To that great reunion in the sky
All in Christ one day will fly.
This our hope will sustain us ever
Knowing this separation is not forever.
For in our Lord‘s presence in just a little while
We again will see our loved ones and smile.
But until that time we see our Savior’s face,
We will find comfort in the wonder of His grace.