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Reflection: Preparing for Eternity

by Loren Engelbrecht

 
The Event: 

On Wednesday night, Grandma called me to her side as she was sitting in her favourite lounge chair.  "Come, please study the Bible lesson with me?"  "Sure," I replied, happy to oblige her with what had become a part of the routine of life. 

We studied the short passage in Jeremiah and discussed it briefly.  "Trust God, no matter what happens…  Let God deal with the issues in the church…  I cannot change things, so I just have to trust Him to deal with the problems of life…"  The conversation continued, in which she expressed her faith and hope that she is nearer to heaven than I am - because she has less years to live.  She expressed these ideas in a positive way; not wishing to die, but simply acknowledging the reality of the shortness of life - and the fact that, at 98 years of age, she has a limited time left on planet earth.

After our short study and discussion had finished and I left, I remember looking back at Grandma, sitting in her lounge chair, reading her Bible.  At that moment, the thought struck me that she was preparing for Eternity.

Thursday morning, as I came out to get my breakfast, I saw her there again.  Grandma had risen earlier than usual and was again sitting in her lounge chair, reading her Bible.  Again, the thought came to me that she was spending more time preparing for Eternity.

As Grandpa put some soft music on (light classical), I watched grandma, reading for a while, then sitting back in the chair with her eyes closed, reflecting on her reading, and probably praying - preparing for eternity.

As I left for work I thought, it's like getting ready to go to another country; just like some of my work colleagues who wanted to migrate to Australia.  They studied the laws and customs of the country they were desirous of being accepted into and spent much time, money and effort in ensuring that they fully complied with all the requirements of that country.  Similarly, Grandma was spending much time studying the Good Book, preparing for Eternity in a Better Land.

 
Its Impact:

This event made such an impact on  me that as I sat on the train that Thursday morning I  jotted down notes on what had happened. 

However, the full significance of this event did not hit me until Friday night when we received the phone call saying that Grandma had died.  Only then did I realise that the interaction described above was my last and final interaction, on this earth, with my beloved Grandma.

 
Theological Reflection:

Preparing for Eternity!

• That's exactly what Grandma was doing, as she passed away less than 48 hours after these events took place

Preparing for Eternity!

• This should be the aim and object of life irrespective of what faith or tradition you follow?

Preparing for Eternity!

• What am I doing today to prepare for eternity?
• Am I choosing wisely in how to spend the short time allocated me here in a way that will enable me to be ready when I cross the threshold of eternity?

 
Points to Ponder from the guide book.

Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh.  Matthew 24:44

When the son of man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and swept them all away. Matthew 24:37-39  CEV

There will be a "great multitude which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds, and people, and tongues standing before the lamb worshipping God. Rev 7:9

This article is Copyright © 2015 by Loren Engelbrecht.  Used by permission

Copyright © 2018 Thornleigh Seventh-day Adventist Church