When Crying Turns to Celebration

We know this ole world has nothing of value to offer to any of us, but in the opposite direction, God offers us a beautiful final curtain call for heaven, our eternal home. We have descriptions of heaven and one of those descriptions was given by Jesus to the thief on the cross, where He described the final destination as "paradise." Praise God for paradise. Those who have gone on before us are not dead, but truly alive in glory or paradise. Andra and my nephew Chase McClendon went to be with the Lord at a young age of 35 years and there was much hurt for most when he died, but that crying was not the final emotion for those who know that final destination for Chase, He is with Jesus in paradise, and the moment he took his last breath, and last beat of his heart, Chase was in the presence of the Lord in that place Jesus calls paradise. Praise God for paradise.

At the funeral we mourned because of the finality of his departing, but we gave celebration for the day when we see Jesus face to face, and once again see the smile of Chase in paradise. A huge amount of people came by to minister to the family, and in that ministry there were tears when remembering past events and special memories, but the body in the casket was not the Chase of NOW. The new body given to Chase is in heaven and that is a call for celebration!! His family were all believers and there tears were replaced with shouting as they lifted up praise to the God who saved Chase and took him to his final home. Praise God for paradise!!!

This week's events were unexpected, but not unplanned by Jesus because Jesus Himself said I go to prepare a place for you and Chase got to his destination before we did.

John 14:² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? I believe in the Word of God and I believe in that place called paradise, and Chase's death just makes me look up to where my help comes from, and that is Jesus. Death isn't the end, and it is just the beginning, so let the celebration echo through our lives as we look to that day when we see Jesus and Chase again in PARADISE. Praise God for paradise!!!

The Pilgrimage Continues,

David Warren