On the Doorstep, But Don't Get to Enter-Part 25

Another facet of the City of Light that was perceived and reported by Craig R. Lundahl and Harold A. Widdison, both Ph.D. holders, in their book The Eternal Journey about Near Death Experiences (NDE), has to do with family.  They maintain...





...on Pages 172 & 173, that...

"Jedediah Grant said, "The people (in the cities of light) were organized in family capacities..."

The authors of The Eternal Journey also remark from their survey conclusions, that...

"The basic unit of the City of Light, according to Grant, is "the family".

On Page 174 they go on to say that...

"James E. Johnson...was involved in a major car accident...he was excited to meet his son and parents and even his father-in-law...He discovered that they were all a part of "his" family.  As noted in earlier chapters, those most often seen by those who are near death are close relatives...Family ties seem to be extremely important...relatives congregate to welcome the dying person into the spirit world as part of their family."

From Page 175 we learn...

"Mrs. Spaulding had been mourning the death of her aunt when she also died and met her aunt.  This experience gave her a sense of peace and comfort and assured her that the family is forever."

>  In Exodus 3:6 God talks to Moses and refers to Himself, saying,

 "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob".

These three mentioned were mighty stalwarts of righteousness and faith as delineated in Hebrews 11:8, 17, 20, 21.   They got honorable mention throughout Scripture even though they had 'gone on ahead'. 

When they were alive on earth they referred to 'going' as being "gathered unto their people or ancestors".  See Genesis 25:8 and Genesis 49:33, in Abraham and Jacobs' cases respectively.

In Deuteronomy 32:50 the Lord says to Moses to go climb the mountain and he would be "gathered to his people" just as his brother Aaron had been.

I was poking around on Google a bit and in one place it mentioned the Hebrew connotation of being "gathered unto his people".  It was suggested that "to be bound in life; the eternal life will be with the righteous of previous generations"; of  "other family members who have died".

There was also mention of the bones that got collected together.  For instance, Joseph asked that his bones would be brought along to the Promised Land.  Moses did bring them along to honor that request (Hebrews 11:22; Genesis 50:25; Exodus 13:19).  Although in this case the significance was that God was going to come to the Israelites and get them out of Egypt and slavery; it's interesting to note that they'd like to keep 'family close', even it if is the remaining bones.  Similarly to nowadays with departed loved ones' urns of ashes.

Joseph's father Jacob (@ Israel) gave his instructions to bury him back in the land of Canaan as he said in Genesis 49:29, 20 

"I am about to be gathered to my people.  Bury me with my fathers..." 

So not only the souls and spirits went together to Hades where they believed other departed family members had gone,  they weren't content until they knew the body and bones of family would be together in the earth, as well. 

Joseph's bones were taken to Canaan, the Promised Land too.  Rather significant, wouldn't you say?

Rendition of Joseph's Bones being carried to the Promised Land

On a slightly different tack then, is that some folks might think that God guarantees all family members will come to Christ and all be together in heaven.  Although 

"God is not willing for any to perish but all to come to repentance..." (2 Peter 3:9),

He does NOT force folks to come to Him.   He wants them to choose for themselves.

Yes, families are important to God; of course.  In Acts 11 He promised Cornelius that his family would come to Christ.  In Acts 16:31 the Philippian jailer was told his whole family would be saved if they "believed on the Lord Jesus Christ".  But this does not guarantee one and all; only those who "believe".   Having faith was the important key for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, no less for those in Jesus' day and for us, today.

There is some room for a bit of, shall we call them, "special hope cases" as in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 where the believing spouse "sanctifies" the unbelieving one.  Yet it is not a promise of salvation.  If a person was already married and then came to Christ, let it be noted that the believing spouse is not in the wrong, nor going against God to stay in the marriage.  The believer must stay in the marriage.  If the unbeliever leaves, then that is a different story.

However, and this is a big however, when we look at 2 Corinthians 6:14, we learn that the maritally single believer should not go and marry an unbeliever.  The believer is only asking for trouble by explicitly disobeying God's Word.  God may have mercy but don't put God to the test.  

"Those who honor God, God will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30).

We are straying some from our main theme of this blog entry which has to do with families being seen together in the City of Lights.  The point is that when households are believers then they will definitely see each other "with Christ" someday.

It is great to think ahead and look forward to the advent of seeing our family members who have gone on before us, it will be a grand reunion for sure.  However isn't our main reason to be "with Christ", to be with HIM forever?  He is the One to look forward to seeing the most.

Remember Stephen of Acts 7:54-60 who was breathing his last breaths, yet looked up into heaven 

"and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God". 

 He said, 

"I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."  (Revelation 7:9)  

We will join hands with God's family, our brothers and sisters-in-Christ, to sing praises to Him.  HE is our focus.

"Oh to see Jesus
  Oh to be like Him
  That crowning day is coming by and by."
              ~author unknown~

Praise His holy Name.

                                                          ~ERC  2017~