V Ellis

I wonder if my Aunt Virginia, who left this morning to be with her precious Lord, is now satisfied with her new clarity of vision, or if after the required time for greetings with family, friends and of course Jesus she is still going to keep busy digging, digging and digging into the glorious mound of eternal truth.

She taught me by her insights and questions and deep respect for the unlimited treasure found in the Word of God that we should take no doctrine for granted, no answered as settled, no teacher as infallible until we lay upon them the full weight of sacred scripture, line upon line, passage upon passage and fully seasoned with the Holy Spirit's flavor. Satisfied that God rewards those who desire and search for the truth we then go back later and ask if there is more.

Virginia was a watchman on the wall. She understood the invisible enemy that motivated the dark forces that sought to tear down her city, and called out to be prepared. Awake at night, horn in hand, she also hoped that it would be her honor to proclaim that the King was coming! Now her watch has passed, the horn is on the ramparts, and who will rise up in her place?

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  

Therefore comfort one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18