No more suffering and no more pain.
He was met with an embrace from the Savior of his soul and an invitation to join the worshippers in the eternal song of the redeemed.
Maybe they'll sing "How Great Thou Art." That was one of his favorites. Maybe he whistled - he had the best whistle you'd ever heard, clear and sweet and warbling.
It's easy to trivialize the grandeur of heaven; to characterize it as some all-expenses paid swanky do-your-favorite-leisure-activity-forever resort, or as baby angels jumping on fluffy clouds, or as some cosmic family reunion with all your favorite dearly departed shaking hands and catching up on old times.
It is not those things.
But it is real. And for those who know Jesus, who have fallen before Him and asked for His salvation, it will be home.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
Revelation 21:1-5
All things new. What a sweet promise, so full of hope and mercy you can taste it, like biting an apple and the juice runs down your chin.
There's a particular picture of him I wish I had to upload, because that's how I'm imagining him now. He's probably in his early twenties, looking sharp in his Marine dress uniform, his face tan and young and strong-jawed, with just a little smile, strong and full of life-to-be-lived.
Grandpa, you loved me my whole life. You told the best bedtime stories. Thank you for loving Jesus. Thank you for teaching my dad to love Him too. We will miss you; but oh you've been yearning for home and I'm so glad you are finally there.
James Albert McMinn
August 6, 1921 - July 14, 2010
