Absolutely Positutely Fulfilled

Jesus said, “After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.”  John 14:3

I know Heaven is for real.  It is absolutely real because I know my friend, Sue, is singing with the angels now.  Sue took her last breath on earth recently and her next breath was in Heaven.  I know Sue is with Jesus because she gave her heart and life to Jesus years ago and lived her faith daily.  I believe because of my own faith and trust in Jesus. This year, Heaven has become sweeter and filled with some of the dear people of my life and ministry – Ed, Jack, Donna, John, Jan, Sue, and the list could go on and on.

I met Sue over thirty years ago when her daughter and family were our neighbors.  Sue and her husband, Don, sang in the choir in two churches where I was on staff.  Sue and Don were the sweetest couple who lived the joy of the Lord in their daily lives.  I enjoyed having them in my Sunday School class, too.  They were always willing to serve the Lord.  Sue was full of life, smiles, and loved life to the fullest. 

When dementia began to take Sue’s mind, it never took her joy and love for Jesus and cookies.  When I would visit with her over the past several years, I brought her chocolate chip cookies which she ate immediately.  We sang the hymns of our faith and talked about Jesus and going home to Heaven.  Sue’s favorite words to say when she agreed with something completely was “Absolutely Positutely.”  She said it makes people smile.  Her family told me it was something she said all her life.

Sue knew she was loved by God.  She made a life long commitment to follow Jesus.  When I would talk about Heaven, her eyes would be filled with tears of joy knowing she would see Jesus face to face.  One day as we talked about Heaven, Sue said, “It would be wonderful to go see Jesus.  Most best thing in all the world, absolutely positutely.”

Even in her dementia, Heaven was absolutely true and she was positutely going to see Jesus.  Her hope and belief were fulfilled when she breathed her last on earth and ran into the arms of Jesus in Heaven.  I am absolutely positutely sure Sue is with Jesus.  Jesus gave His life for Sue and for each one of us.  Sue accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  She loved Jesus.  Her heart was filled with songs to worship Jesus.  Her smile radiated the love for Jesus that was in her heart.  Sue loved life even in its brokenness.

While dementia is a terrible disease and was difficult for her family, it helped Sue in the loss of her dear husband.  She did not go through the grief continuously.  She just accepted that her husband was at work or away on a trip.  She missed him but knew it was something he had to do.  She remembered him as he had always been.  He was still alive in her heart, just away for a while.

This is true of death. Our loved one’s love is still alive in our hearts, and they are alive in Heaven.  We are just apart for a period of time, but we will be reunited in Heaven.  Having the assurance of Heaven brings peace in the midst of our grief.  We will always miss them and miss sharing the moments of life with them.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John not to be troubled or afraid but to trust His Word.  He is preparing a place for all who believe in Him, and He will come back and take them to be where He is.

Do you believe in Heaven?  Is it absolutely positutely true for you?  We have the assurance when we trust in Jesus.  For me, Heaven is where Jesus is and that is what is most important.  Sometimes, religious words cloud our view of Heaven.  Mansions and streets of gold and angels may not seem like where you want to go.  It is remembering that John was trying to describe the indescribable in earthly language using what was the most elaborate and beautiful he knew to give us a picture of Heaven.

Heaven is where there are no more tears, no pain, no hurt, no evil, no sin.  It is perfect.  It is home.  To me, Heaven is the perfect Garden of Eden and is filled with all that God has created.  We receive a glimpse of Heaven on earth through nature – the beauty of the sky, the clouds, the trees, the animals and all that grows.

As I remember Sue, I smile and know she is whole and free from dementia and the weight of this world.  Sue loved to sing and I am sure she is singing in Heaven.  My friend, Jan, I know is in Heaven and singing along with Sue.  As I think of Heaven, I begin to name those I know who are in Heaven – my Grandma, my mom, my dad, my husband, Dave, Sue, Jan, and the list goes on and on.  It brings me joy to know that I will see Jesus face to face and be surrounded by those who came before me.

Heaven is real – Absolutely Positutely!  Trust Jesus.  Take Jesus at His Word.

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