Life to Come

Knowing how long we have changes our perspective. There has been a lot of death lately. Lots of times where it has come up in conversation, a reminder that we never know the day or time.

View from our sunrise service on Sunday

Some think this life is it. A colleague’s father was questioning her about why we would choose these ‘harder’ lives on the islands and not choose to be comfortable. My friend’s answer was that this life and how comfortable we are isn’t the main thing. This life isn’t the end all— we have a whole other life after. The life to come is more important. It is that life that will not end. This is just the backstory for the main event.

As I was talking with my island friend, Nanasi, someone who is often concerned about money and status, I shared this sentiment.  Like many islanders, she was quick to agree with me, but she took it in a different direction than I wanted. “Yes, that is why we need to do good things here so we can have it good in that life.”

A well-timed bloom

I was quick to shut that line of thought down. No, it’s not about getting it good in the life to come, the focus isn’t on different types of human pleasure, it’s about being together with God, being in His presence.

But God is perfect. He can’t accept sin, so He can’t accept us because we all carry sin in us. A bunch of good deeds doesn’t change that fact. We can’t come to God on our own— we can only be brought to Him.

We can work as much as we want building our own road to God, but we have to realize that a road has already been paved and cleared for us. In order to know the way and in order to be let in, we have to be brought along by the road-builder Himself.

During this month of fasting, we see so many people struggling to build a road to God, thinking that each fasted day and each prayer said is another brick laid on their path, while at the same time never knowing if they will have reached far enough before the end. Throughout this month, we’ve tried to joyfully proclaim that we aren’t struggling to make a road. “The way has already been opened for us!  We already know we will be with God in the life to come!”

Nanasi smiled, but I saw the puzzlement in her eyes as she listened to these sentiments and as she gave the standard response to any comment about the future, “God willing.”

Our son turns 14!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We praise God that we have Risen Savior who has conquered the grave. We are thankful for various Easter celebrations across the islands.  We especially enjoyed our own sunrise service on the top of the tallest building in Clove Island!  We continue to be thankful to have all our kids home with us and for our older son turning 14! We were able to find some fun ways to celebrate his birthday. We are thankful that Muki continues to study with our friends while he is visiting the big island.  We are thankful for many opportunities we’ve had this month to talk of the road that is already built for us and the way that lies open to all who choose it.  

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We just got word last night that a former neighbor just died. She was older but not sickly. The burial and first day of funeral events was today. Continue to pray that we might be a light to those who are grieving and thinking about the realities of death and the life to come.  The month of fasting continues.  Pray that we would be strong through it, to speak boldly of the path that has already been laid and the futility of building your own path.  Pray that we could balance well the time with all our kids and the joy it is to have them around with the regular responsibilities of work and life.  Pray for the idea of having a big group gathering— it’s not clear if it will happen during the month of fasting or if it will wait until after when people from far away can come.