January 24, 2021

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Yesterday in the wee morning hour our brother Darma moved to his new home in heaven.  Jesus Our Savior came and took him to His eternal and glorious dwelling where there is no more sickness and sorrow.  Darma fought a good fight and he finished well.  Despite his long illness he kept the faith; he never wavered and stayed faithful till the end.  His body may have decayed but not his faith in Jesus; it remained strong and glowing every day from sunrise to sunset. 

Revelation 22:20-21 comprise the last verses of the Bible, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”  But, as we can see, these are the beginning, not an ending to a book.  These are not words to conclude a story; these are in fact words to a new story.  Jesus Our Lord promised that He would come again and with His coming, a new story begins in heaven.

We often think of life as a book where our birth marks the first chapter and our death, its last.  But it is not so.  Our death is not to be the last chapter; it is merely another chapter because right after, there is another chapter, and this is to be the best chapter of all.  It is to be the best chapter not because everything and everyone will be different and new.  No, we will meet and be with those we have known; even the new acquaintances will be familiar and dear to us.  Most importantly we will be with Our Heavenly Father Whom we have intimately known; Whom we talk to and share with daily. 

As C. S. Lewis explains, “When we see the face of God, we shall know that we have always known it.   He has been a party to, has made, sustained and moved moment by moment within, all our earthly experiences of innocent love.”  Hallelujah!

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - November 30, 2025
Dieter Zander was once arguably one of the best worship leaders in the country.  He used to serve at Willow Creek Community Church in a suburb of Chicago, along with John Ortberg.  In his book, Soul Keeping, Ortberg shares that the church had to literally stop singing certain songs when Za...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - December 17, 2017
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Those of you who were around in this church in the late 1970s and early 1980s might still remember Oom Moses Nugroho....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - December 22, 2019
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Today we have come to the fourth week of Advent—the last Sunday before Christmas-- and the fourth candle, which is called the Magi’s Candle, signifies love. The advent or the coming of Jesus the Son of God personifies the love of the Father who sent His Only Son to the wo...
Read More