I Cannot Come To You, But You Can One Day Join Me!

This is how I remember my dad, sitting at the table teaching.

"But do not let this one {fact} escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:8-9

One year ago today my dad went to heaven.  Seeing as how God is not constrained by time, those worshiping in His presence have no need of a wristwatch.  The last year has not moved ploddingly forward or raced onward by turns for Dad as it has those he beat to the finish line.  There has not been one day in the last 365 that I have not wondered with whom Dad was spending his time surrounded by the glory of God. I'm sure  Dad has spoken to Barnabas to confirm his part in writing Hebrews.  Maybe he chatted up Elijah concerning what it was like to ride in a fiery chariot.  Perhaps he even spoke to Peter about Christ’s  imminent return to take up in the clouds all who believe and the amount  of earthly time our patient heavenly father has waited until this point to allow for more of His creation to come to repentance.  

All I know for sure is what God’s word, the Bible, has told me.  I know my dad’s eternal address is heaven because he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the propitiation for his sin. (Hebrews 2:17)  I also know that Dad was prepared to be there.  

Dad sharing the gospel at an Ericksen Christmas gathering.

Dad enjoyed learning.  Both my parents were/are avid readers.  After he came to know Jesus as his saviour Dad became a student of the word. In his free time he didn’t peruse newspapers, magazines, or even much fiction in my recollection.  He could be found reading the Bible or some commentary on the Bible.  

My folks love of reading has worn off on their children.  I was tickled when I found out in college that I could get a degree in “reading stuff”.  It was actually my responsibility to sit around reading all day!  I especially enjoyed fiction.  Since Dad’s death I have had a hard time getting caught up in made up stories and have turned instead to nonfiction.  Reading for me used to be mainly for my own enjoyment, although it is also the way I learn best.  Now I am convicted more than ever to consider what my reading is doing for me from an eternal perspective.  Dad was prepared for heaven because he’d dutifully studied the manual.  His learning curve would be short and he looked forward to having questions answered that were almost 4 decades in the pondering. I don’t want to get where I know I’m going and not have done my homework.  

Dad giving a devotional a couple years back.  He and Mom had taken all the kids and grandkids to Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun for Christmas.

Here he is that same trip playing with a bunch of the grandsons.

It took me the most part of a year to come to this conclusion.  That is just like Dad to let me ruminate.  When approached with a question his way of answering was to see that you had all the information you needed, and then to begin speaking in the interrogative until you came up with the answer seemingly on your own.  

Upon speaking with my siblings he never had any last words of wisdom to impart upon any of us.  I’m pretty sure he figured he’d given us all the information we would need to carry out God’s will for each of our lives and to arrive at the finish line ready to hold our own as part of heavenly discussion.

Studying the word

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  

2 Timothy 2:15