How do you say goodbye? There are literally 100’s of different ways. Formal or informal, friendly or casual, warm and caring, hopeful and forward-looking, or classic or neutral…at least that’s what “Siri” says. However, whether it’s farewell or see you later, they all signify an end to something — a conversation, an event, an activity, a date, or even a life.
Saying goodbye to a friend or loved one who is close to entering eternity is never easy. It’s wrought with emotion and passion, even for the most stoic of us. Why is that? There are probably numerous reasons, but I think at the core is simply that you grieve the end of a continuous or open invitation to re-engage with that friend or loved one. You miss them and you grieve. You might regret things said, not said, or the convicting thoughts that you had time to “make things right,” and you didn’t.
This is pretty universal. But there is a significant difference in saying goodbye to the person who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The promises of reunion in heaven with others of faith are clear throughout the Scripture. Revelation 21-3-4 “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.” I say this not as an indictment for those not yet a person of faith, but a strong encouragement from the whole of the Bible…to consider your personal relationship with God. You see, it might be the difference between farewell and see you later.
I promised you last week a link to personal evaluation questions. Here it is: https://smartchurchmanagement.com/self-appraisal/