THE ONE HUGE FAMILY REUNION

"The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words."1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (Message) 

There is a story of an old man who was about to die. The man called his wife and children to his bedside. He hugged his wife, son and daughter, who were all devout Christians and said, “Good night, I’ll meet you in a better place.”  He had another son, however, who never obeyed the gospel. He was a good boy, but he just never saw the need to turn his life over to Christ and be baptised unto Him. While giving him a hug, his father said very sadly, “good-bye, my son, good-bye.” Having touched the young man’s heart he said, “Dad, you said good night to Mum, my brother and sister, but to me you said ‘Good-bye.’ Why is that?”. The dying man said, “Son, your mother, brother, and sister are Christians, and I know that one day we’re going to be together again in Heaven with Jesus. So to them I said, ‘Good Night.’ But you know that as much as I’ve prayed for you and pleaded with you to obey the Gospel, you never did. It's so sad to know that I will never see you again, and as much as it breaks my heart all I can say is ‘GOOD-BYE."

On the resurrection morning, Christians will be ushered into the venue of that "one huge family reunion" and they shall see their Saviour - Jesus Christ in His heavenly splendour, beauty and glory (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Faithful believers still living at that time will walk on air to meet Jesus, while those who had gone ahead will rise triumphantly from their sleep and converge at the golden shore for that "one huge family reunion". And like the man in the above story, many people will be so glad to meet and embrace their loved ones who also made it to the golden shore.

Can you imagine how glorious that day will be?  Will you be at that "one huge family reunion" in Heaven? Are there some people who you are eagerly looking forward to see at that "one huge family reunion"? Are there people around you today that may not make it to the golden shore because they have not obeyed the gospel? Why not prayerfully reach out to them this week with the gospel of Jesus? Attending that "one huge family reunion" is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone. Why not accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today so that you will be among those that will be adored in white glorious apparel on that beautiful resurrection morning.

One special old time song which encourage Christians to look forward to attending that "one huge family reunion" is the hymn titled "Meet Me There! ". This wonderful hymn was composed by the reknown hymnist - Fanny J. Crosby in 1885. May I urge you to please  make the lyrics of this wonderful hymn your watch word till Jesus returns to take us home for the family reunion never to part no more.

MEET ME THERE!

On the happy, golden shore,
Where the faithful part no more,
When the storms of life are o’er,
Meet me there;
Where the night dissolves away
Into pure and perfect day,
I am going home to stay—
Meet me there.

Refrain:
        Meet me there, meet me there,
        Where the tree of life is blooming,
        Meet me there;
        When the storms of life are o’er,
        On the happy golden shore,
        Where the faithful part no more,
        Meet me there.

Here our fondest hopes are vain,
Dearest links are rent in twain,
But in Heav’n no throb of pain—
Meet me there;
By the river sparkling bright
In the city of delight,
Where our faith is lost in sight,
Meet me there.

Where the harps of angels ring,
And the blest forever sing,
In the palace of the King,
Meet me there;
Where in sweet communion blend
Heart with heart and friend with friend,
In a world that ne’er shall end,
Meet me there.

Will you meet me there? Will I meet you there? Will you meet your parents, children, spouse, siblings, Pastors, friends and colleagues there? May God's grace keep us undefiled till we reach the golden shore in Jesus name. Amen

May I use this opportunity to say "Good night" to our sweet mummy- Mrs Theresa Oluwafunmilayo SONOLA (1938 - 2018) and Pa Stephen Aremu Adeniyi ADEKEYE (1928 - 2018). We shall meet to part no more on that beautiful shore in Heaven. Beloved mum and dad, we love you but God loves you more. Continue to rest in the bossom of your Lord and Saviour. E sun re oo. To my dear friends -  Achiever Tony Sonola (G.A.S) and Pastor Adebayo Adekeye , please don't sorrow as your mum and dad only sleeps in Christ but for a short moment and then they will rise with Him to everlasting glory. Asiri abo o. Omo rere a gbehin gbogbo wa o ni oruko nla jesu. 

Good morning and do have a blessed day.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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