“The absence of your loved one is temporary; the reunion will be permanent.” (Allistair Begg)

One mile outside the city limits of Hiawatha, Kansas is a small fishing pond on the south side of Highway 36.  Sticking out of the water is a protective grate which covers the pond’s overflow drainage pipe.  I’ve passed that pond hundreds of times while driving to and from my parents’ home. 

On one of those many trips, I spotted a man sitting on top of that drain cover, fishing.  As I got closer, I first recognized the man’s red truck, and then the man himself.  How did I recognize him so readily while driving past at highway speeds?  Well, it was my brother Chris!  Ever since that day, I’ve called that pond Chris’ “fishing spot.”  Every time I pass by, I honk and wave as if he’s still there.

But Chris isn’t there.  In fact, he’s not anywhere on Earth anymore.  It will soon be five years since he died of a rare brain tumor.  This year will mark the 30th year since our only sister died of the same tumor.  The truth is their absence stings.  But it’s also true that their absence is temporary!  The same is true for any of your believing loved ones who have left you through death as well.

Skeptics may say this is simply wishful thinking on our part; a crutch to help us cope with our pain.  But the Word of God backs up our hope.  Listen to these words from Paul, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Christ’s victory over death and the grave is the basis for our hope.  The Resurrection of Christ changed everything.  It turned Jesus’ hiding disciples into willing martyrs.  That one event separated that one Man from every other who has ever lived, or will ever live.  He was so pivotal, in fact, that the entire world marks time by Him.  As I type it is January 31, 2026 AD – anno domino – the year of our Lord.  Plato lived from approximately 428-347 BC – before Christ.

Grieve their losses – but do so with hope – knowing that the separation is temporary, but the reunion is permanent! –Dave

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