No Goodbyes

My friends Peter and Cheryl Banks are missionaries in Papua New Guinea. He had some interesting thoughts in his newsletter this morning from there.

Why is saying goodbye so hard?” “Does saying goodbye ever get easier?”

God has placed eternity in the heart of each person (Ecc. 3:11), and as part of that, we were made to never say goodbye to anyone. We were created to live forever, in harmony with each other and God. When sin entered the world, separation and death also came along as by products. We hate saying “Goodbye” to friends and loved ones, because we were created to never have to say it! Can you imagine living in a perfect world where all your loved ones were together, and you never had to say “Goodbye” to anyone? We can all imagine such a place, because that is the place God is calling us to. The book of Revelation describes the New Heaven and the New Earth as a place where there will be no more death or sorrow, and no more goodbyes! We were made for this! Jesus promised that “in this world you will have troubles” (including grief from saying goodbye), “be not discouraged, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16.33) He came to give us life that will last for all eternity. No more “Goodbye”! What a privilege to be part of a team that is bringing this message to the people of PNG. What a blessing to know that “Goodbye” for Christians, is only temporary, and that we will spend all eternity with our loved ones. Saying “Goodbye” in this life does get a bit easier, knowing that we will certainly see our loved ones again.