Nine years have passed since our dear Marissa went on to glory.

I’m grateful for the balm of time, the ability to step back from the cancer journey and remember her life as a whole. I’m grateful for scriptural truth assuring me of her present joy and glorious future. And I’m thankful for my merciful Savior who has walked with us through every dark valley and continues to lead us home.

Do you ever wonder why some are chosen to walk a hard earthly path? Does it seem at times that the sweetest and gentlest people are called on to suffer and die early?

I’m reminded of a passage from Pilgrim’s Progress.

Mr. Evangelist told them, “One of you shall die in the city that you are about to come to. Although his death will be unnatural and his pain probably great, he will have the advantage over his companion for two reasons: He will arrive at the Celestial City sooner and he will escape the many miseries that the other will meet with in the rest of his journey. When you have come to this Town, and all that I have spoken about has been fulfilled, then remember your friend and quit yourselves as men.”

We have convinced ourselves (or allowed ourselves to be convinced) that this life is what’s important. That what we can see and taste and feel now is the main event.

But it’s not. “All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” C. S. Lewis

Marissa has arrived at the main event.

What can we do but “remember your friend and quit (behave) yourselves as men?” Carry on, do the work we’re called to, live out our story for the glory of the One who died for us. We can share the good news, love others, and prepare for a marvelous future.

(Will you come with us? Do you know Christ? Are you following Him to the place He has promised to those who love Him?)

Because this is not all there is.

The story goes on.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.  2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. Hebrews 12:22-25a