Family Reunion

I am thankful to God for blessing me to be able to celebrate our 36th Thornton Family Reunion. It is a blessing to still have so many of my family still here. Tomorrow is never promised to anyone, that is why it is important to spend time with your loved ones while they are still on this earth. Sadly many families only get together at funerals.

T his weekend, as we gather to eat, dance,  and reminence about the past, we can never forget our ancestors, those who came before us because we would not exist if it was not for them.

As  I think about my earthly family reunion, I can't help but think about that 'special' family reunion in the future. When Jesus Christ calls me and all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus home to be with Him for all eternity. There will be a feast unlike anything we could ever imagine. There will be singing and praise; Tables of manna, and fruit that does not rot or mold; there will be no fighting or bickering at this reunion, no family feuds or bitter rivialries, no unresolved pain or grief to darken this great gathering of people from every nation, every race, and every tongue.

There will be no more 'memorials' to those who have passed on because those souls who had truly put their faith in Jesus will no longer be dead but alive, with new bodies that will never die,get old, or diseased.

That is the hope we who have a saving faith in Christ have, that we don't have to fear death or grieve lost loved ones. Actually, those who have died in Christ are not 'lost', they have gone on a 'vacation' to paradise, but they will be coming back again with the LORD. It's those who reject Jesus that are truly lost.

Jesus Christ is going to be returning to gather His elect, His family, to take us to His home in heaven. We will be united with all who have gone on before us. It will be a reunion unlike anything before.

This song came to mind as I was writing this post:
                Soon and very soon, we will go and see the King, soon and very soon we will go and see the King; No more crying there, we are going to see the King, no more crying there, we are going to see the King; No more dying there, we are going to see the King, no more dying there we are going to see the King, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, We are going to see the King!

Are you looking forward to the coming of Jesus? Do you want to be a guest at His wedding feast in heaven? This event is by invitation only. The guest list is made by God. You can't buy a ticket. You can't earn a pass to this great event. There is only one way to get your name on the guest list, and that is through Jesus.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, born of a virgin; Jesus lived and died but He rose from Dead, and now offers anyone who will believe in Him Salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, anyone who will believes will know and have a real relationship with the true God.  You can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and  Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post:  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:6-10