Journey

My family has an annual trip to Mammoth Mountain in the winter to go snow skiing. We go with my wife's family. We all leave separately from our houses but usually within an hour of each other. During the trip we call each other on the cell phones to see where the other cars in the caravan are. Sometimes if we are close to each other we will converge on a Starbucks or stop for lunch at a roadside grill. We talk and then get back in the car and say "last one there is a rotten egg!" and the journey continues. Some go up a day before and we never see them along the journey. Other family members opt out of the trip due to commitments or lack of interest.

Sometimes (like last year) we had long delays, we had ice on the road and we had to stop and put chains on the tires. I can remember the pain in my hands putting those stupid chains on and watching on-coming traffic as they passed, hoping they would not slide out on the ice on the road. But in the end, we arrived at Mammoth Mountain. We see the beautiful blankets of snow, we drive up to the cabin and see family members who have arrived before us. We get out of the car and smell the fresh cold air and look forwad to hanging out with the family and hitting the slopes over the next few days.

There's an image of Heaven I saw after Peggy passed away that was very comforting to me. I saw Pastor Steve show up to the room to greet my family after Peggy had passed away. He gave supporting comments to various family members inside and outside the room. When I was in the room he was saying goodbyes and started to walk out of the room. He walked by Peggy, looked over to her and said "See you up there, Kiddo!"

A day or two later I was talking to one of Peggy's freinds, Jody on the phone. We were going over some memories of Peggy and preparing for the Memorial Service. Jody said in a real matter-of-fact way, "Peggy is such a brat, she gets to go to heaven first!"

Both of these comments have been ringing in my head. They were comments from core believers in Jesus. They were comments of ultra confidence in where Peggy is and where each of them are going. The comments were not much different than those comments on my trips to Mammoth when we had our journey and coordinated stops along the way.

Life is a journey, much longer than an annual trip to Mammoth Mountain, but very brief compared to eternity. Life's journey has its ups and downs, it has its dangers and frustrations, but the focus of our journey should be heaven. It will be a great day when we arrive.

We can say with confidence that we will see Peggy again, if we have saving faith in Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and Peggy has entered the presence of God through her relationship with Jesus....so will I; so will Pastor Steve; so will Peggy's freind Jody and many others who have put their faith in Jesus. But there are those that choose not to go on the journey. They opt out because of various reasons.

Jesus was clear when He said " Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed out of death into life" John 5:24.

See you up there Peg!