Last night, I stood by the bedside of a man that was dying. Disease had taken its toil on his body and he only had a little time left. His family was there with him. They had known for months that this time would come and they had done all they knew to do to prepare for this moment. But the truth is, we never are totally prepared for this moment.
We all gathered around the bed and I began to talk to him about that it was alright to relax and let go and that the Lord was there to help him make that transition from this life to the next. I read the 23rd Psalms and prayed.
When I finished, I looked at every member of the family that was present and I could see that they were grieved, and their hearts were broken. They loved this man dearly, but they did not want to see him continue to labor for breath and remain in this state.
Having been in this situation many times, we begin to ask, “How much longer can he linger on?” or “Why doesn’t God take him on?” These are question that we as mortal man don’t have the answer to.
Last night as we stood around his bed watching him breath for what seemed like an eternity, one of this gentleman’s nieces said, “I have come to believe that there is no time in heaven.”
No time in heaven. What a profound statement, but a true one.
As I stood there and pondered this statement, I did a quick evaluation of my life and thought, what a great place to not have to worry about time.
I am setting here at this moment frantically typing this article trying to meet a timed deadline. I am angry with myself because I have waited to the last day to submit it, and frustrated because I have committed to more than I can do today.
If you are honest with yourself today, you would agree with me that today we work longer hours, attempt to develop the skill of multi-tasking, purchase every kind of techno device, and sleep less all for the purpose of cramming more into the allotted time that God has given us in a day.
The truth is our fast paced and demanding society has set for us a lifestyle that is unhealthy for us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, a society that demands more from us than we can possibly meet.
As I drove home in the wee hours of the morning, pondering the many things that I have to do today, I thought of a place that had no time. I must admit I was a little envious of my friend. But, until then, life continues on, and we must keep trusting the Lord!
