We have a permanent home waiting for us in heaven!

 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalm 116:15 NIV)

Last Saturday, my pastor and dear friend, Steve Mason, went home to be with the Lord. I was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his sudden passing. For many years Steve had poured positive input into my life through his excellent well prepared and delivered sermons. He spoke the way I listened and I will greatly miss him!

When people near us die, it helps to focus on important Bible truths.

We don't grieve as others do!

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 ESV)

We are temporarily here

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.” (Ecc. 3:1-2 KJV)

We have a permanent home in heaven

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20-21 NIV)

We have much to look forward to

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom. 8:16-17 NIV)

Be of good courage

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”  (2 Cor. 5:6-9 NASB)

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9 NIV)

Steve Mason, my dear brother in the Lord, I'm looking forward to seeing you again someday in heaven!