“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,”Jesus says in John 16:33, “but take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Difficult times are inevitable. Even with this knowledge, it’s still possible to be taken aback when adversity strikes.
10 Days After, 17 Days Before
Sunday, December 8, 2024 — ten days after my mother’s 75th birthday — began as an ordinary day for me. Churches everywhere were preparing for one of the most extraordinary events in history: the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. God became a Man to redeem humanity and bridge the gap between earth and heaven.
The Universal Language of Praise
That morning, I attended an 11 o’clock church service in upstate Georgia with a primarily Spanish-speaking audience.
We gathered around the theme “Adoración en el Cielo”, in English “Worship in Heaven”. The main text was taken from Revelation chapter 4, which describes an incredible scene of adoration taking place there. Here are verses 8 and 11 in Spanish first, followed by their English translation:
“Cada uno de los seres vivientes tenía seis alas, y las alas estaban totalmente cubiertas de ojos por dentro y por fuera. Día tras día y noche tras noche repiten continuamente: «Santo, santo, santo es el Señor Dios, el Todopoderoso, el que siempre fue, que es, y que aún está por venir.”
“Tú eres digno, oh Señor nuestro Dios, de recibir gloria y honor y poder. Pues Tú creaste todas las cosas, y existen porque Tú las creaste según tu voluntad.”
In English:
“Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Afterwards, we sung a Spanish language rendition of a popular worship song from Chris Tomlin relating to the scriptures. The chorus says in Spanish:
Cantan ángeles santo
Clama la creación santo
Exaltado Dios
Santo, santo por siempre
In English:
All the angels cry holy
All creation cries holy
Lord, You’re lifted high
Holy, holy forever
End of Faith Begins a Glorious Fate
While I was singing, I noticed that my cell phone had multiple missed calls from my family coming in one after the other. A few minutes later, I received a text from my niece: “Please call me. It’s an emergency.” I knew immediately it was about my mother’s transition. I continued singing with more vigor, tears streaming down my face. However, I also looked up and smiled, realizing that my mother was now a part of a similar scene, worshipping the Lord!
My mother is fully experiencing the faith she placed in Christ. She is in the safest place she could ever be: in the presence of her heavenly Father. This is the hope that everyone has when they choose to surrender their life to Him!
Throughout her life, my mother demonstrated profound love, compassion, sacrifice, and generosity towards her children, family, and friends.
I understand that my mother stands before the Lord for one profound reason. She has a celestial home because Jesus redeemed her and adopted her into His family. In the summer of 1984, my mother recognized that was a sinner in need of a Savior. She understood that she had been living apart from her Creator, and she decided to give her life to Christ. I made the same decision shortly after.
A Present of Presence Presently and Beyond
Someone reading this is coming to the same realization: God has been knocking at your heart’s door, inviting you into His family. Christmas is widely recognized as the Lord‘s birthday, and on birthdays, we normally give gifts. Interestingly, even though it’s His birthday, Jesus wants to give you a gift. What is it?
According to John 5: 11-13, “And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”
An Eternal View of Time
As I conclude, the scripture reminds us that a day in the Lord‘s view is like 1,000 years (2 Peter 3:8). Therefore, my mother has been with the Lord for several millennia now, and I know she’s enjoying every moment of it. She is where there’s no more sorrow, no more suffering, and pain. There’s no night there because Jesus Himself is the Light.
Mom, I thank you for letting the Lord’s light shine through you while you were here. I’m grateful for your love, care, and the lessons you taught me about loving God and others. Enjoy your new journey. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you now and always.
Scripture reference links in the above text are from the New Living Translation. They go to bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices.
