My heart is heavy as I write this with the passing away of two great Pastors (Pastor Avelino Padilla and Pastor Gospel Catanus) in my home province in the Philippines. This happened within the same week. Tito (Uncle) Bill - a relative of ours and Pastor Gospel a close family friend. These two Pastors were considered among the strong Christian influencers. Their work had a major impact in the salvation and faith of countless people including myself. The outpouring of messages of condolences, beautiful testimonies and support via social media platforms and other avenues is a testament to the blessed life they lived. I would imagine pre-Covid – their funeral would be attended by the hundreds.
Talking and chatting online with their family members with the intent of comforting – I couldn’t help but be the one comforted. Of course, there is sadness of the passing away of their loved one, however, there is a sense of peace, calmness, and acceptance. They recognize that they are in heaven, re-united with our Lord Jesus Christ. They are in a much better place free of suffering and body pain. If we have a glimpse of where they are right now – they would surely say, they’re not asking to go back to earth as they are in the most glorious place. They are both home – a home not built by human hands, but an incorruptible place designed to last for eternity. What a comforting truth to their family and friends.
It is not a coincidence that over the past weeks, the lessons I have been encountering has been about looking beyond this earth and investing on things with eternal value. A friend of mine has also forwarded a series of YouTube videos on the study of each chapter of Revelations. This book covering what is to come for Christians and the magnificent return and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. In another avenue, our ladies group studied Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love” on Chapter 7 “Your Best Life … Later”. It challenges us that if we knew what awaits us in heaven, how would this impact the way we live right now. We discussed about the great men and women of faith who faced martyrdom, poverty, and persecution, just to bring the gospel to more people even to the remotest parts of the world.
What is it in them that drives this passion to serve? It is the deep faith, understanding and relationship they have with the Master. They understood that the things here on earth are temporary. They have been given the privilege to invest in their eternal future. They did not invest in material things. They did not use their time and resources to advance their status on earth, but their status in heaven. The drive comes from knowing that when they get to heaven, they will hear those precious words, “Well done my good and faithful servant”. They will also receive grand rewards for their sacrifice. I would imagine Tito Bill and Pastor Gospel enjoying their crowns / rewards in heaven. They were intelligent and brilliant men, and they did not use this to pursue their careers to accumulate more wealth but instead they dedicated their lives in the Lord’s ministry.
How does eternity in heaven and meeting our Lord when it is our time, mean how we face our day? Have we been so obsessed to strive hard to live comfortably? Have we devoted our energy and resources to be successful based on the world’s standards, stock up for a good retirement, ensure the next generation are taken care of? Has this been our top priority? Absolutely nothing wrong about this … but if we know that these are just temporary and with times on earth uncertain, how does that impact how we live? Would we rather use our time, talents, and treasures to further God’s kingdom? How does this change our view in giving? Would it loosen our tight grip on our own resources and start to feel the joy in giving to those who need these the most? I grapple and struggle on all these questions myself. May God grant us the grace to find the answers and respond in faith.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
– Matthew 6:19-24
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