Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 241 August 26, 2001
REUNIONS

My eldest son returned from his summer long mission trip to Madagascar yesterday. He was accompanied on the plane by a friend who had spent the summer on a mission trip to Hungary.

There was a crowd of about 25 people waiting eagerly to see them. It was a typical airport reunion. Lots of hugs and handshakes.

It got me thinking of reunions. There are two types of reunion, at least in my way of thinking.

There are those reunions where you look forward to being reunited with someone you haven’t seen in a while. A time of joy.

There are the reunions you dread because of some ill will between you. It is often someone you have been avoiding meeting for some reason.

For believers there is a huge reunion coming. We will all be gathered together at the feet of the Lord.

We’ll get to see people who have encouraged us and prayed for us. We’ll see friends and family who are also believers.

We’ll meet people who were influenced in their walk by something we did or said, and we have no idea who they are. A couple of years ago there was an excellent song out by Ray Bolton (I think), called Thank You For Giving to the Lord. It describes his vision of the reunion quite touchingly.

We will be called home for a great reunion.

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV

There are some who will dread that reunion because they have rejected Christ.

Before the reunion, take every opportunity to tell those who don’t know about Him. Be a witness in your walk, your talk, your giving and your prayer. Offer them the chance to join the reunion in joy not fear.

Until next time, may everything you do point others in the direction of a joyful reunion with Jesus Christ.

God bless.

Kevin