For months we prayed for Oom Gie Vong and for months God heard our prayers by restoring him to relatively good health until three weeks ago.  Due to difficulty breathing, he was taken to the hospital where he remained till Jesus Our Lord came and took him home on Friday, August 21.  Surrounded by his family he slipped into eternity.

Last Wednesday, our sister Herwi also finished the race and went to her eternal dwelling.  For seven years she fought a good fight, never giving up hope and will to live.  Even in my last meeting with her in Jakarta, she remained full of hope and joy for the life that she was about to enter, the glorious life in the heavenly realms with God. 

Heaven is bright and glorious but the road to heaven is often not so.  It is usually dark, bumpy, full of potholes. Every time I stood by one who was about to depart this world, I was reminded of the words of St. Paul about this earthly body, “It has no greatness when it is put in a grave, but it is raised with shining-greatness. It is weak when it is put in a grave, but it is raised with power” (1 Corinthians 15:43). That is the road that we all must travel one day, the road that is marked with weakness, the road that has no greatness and glory.  But thank God, it does not end in grave; it will lead us to and end in heaven.  The ruined body will be raised and transformed into glory.

Before I left, Herwi told me that she did not want a funeral service. She wanted a celebration, not to celebrate her life on earth but to celebrate her life in heaven.  “After I died, I won’t be here anymore; I will be in heaven, so I want you all to be happy for me!” she said.  On the road to heaven, with no greatness and in utter weakness, she already looked forward to her new life.  Heaven got her excited!  Heaven also got Tante Sophia, Pauline, Ping Kie and Ping En excited for Oom Gie Vong, too!  Heaven should get us excited! Hallelujah!

Pastor Paul