Craig Clouston

 He Will Welcome Me

September 15

And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:11

“I’m sorry about your father, David.” Nancy offered her condolences on the loss of his father. “How are you and your mother doing?”

David had been born at a time when society missed the blessing of Down’s syndrome children and institutionalized them instead. But Dick and Betty Lou had refused to yield to a worldview that discarded children in an effort to justify not dealing with the responsibility and challenges that special needs children pose. They raised David to believe he could succeed, and he had! He not only learned to care for himself, but for others as well, his passion for life driven entirely by a greater passion for Jesus.

“Thank you,” he said, halting and then continuing with solemnity. “We are coping.”

“If there’s anything you need, please call us,” Nancy offered.

It was evident that David’s response to Nancy’s genuine concern was heartfelt. “Thank you very much. I will relay that to my mother.” Then David shared, “My Dad’s in heaven, and someday we will join him.”

“Yes, but not soon, right?” Nancy was sure David was not alluding to a premature reunion.

“No, not soon,” he replied with understanding. “But someday.” And then David declared with certainty, “I am his only son, and he will welcome me!”

What profound insight, Nancy thought. “Yes, David, he will be standing at the portal of heaven, waiting to present you to Jesus.”

†

What a startling image of our arrival to our true home! We who die in Christ will not just awaken in heaven to stand before God (although this would surely be enough). Our arrival will be celebrated by the Host of heaven, and we will see those who have long since slipped from our memories.

Peter speaks of a rich welcome, when time will be no more, and the constraints we live with on earth will vanish in that moment! All of heaven’s attention will be trained upon two people: the One who made it possible and us. In that moment, we will be His only child, and He will surely welcome us.

Prayer

“Lord, I long for the day when You celebrate my arrival and I see You face to face. Until then, lead me in Your grace. Amen.”