FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

It was Sofia’s final morning on this earth when I went into her room to scoop her up out of her crib and get her changed for what would be the last time. The moment I saw her, I knew she had gone from days to just hours. I’ll spare the details of what that looked like, it’s something I would rather forget. Nevertheless, it was apparent to me that her time had shortened. As usual, I went to grab her another outfit to change her for the day. Without looking at what I was grabbing, I put on her little pajama shirt that read, “bright future ahead.” In that moment a doubting thought ran through my mind, “Her future isn’t bright, she soon will take her final breadth. I should change her out of this, so the funeral home doesn’t scoff at this shirt when they see her.” Immediately, following that thought the Spirit reminded me of this truth, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Sofia’s future was and is bright. Even then she was just hours away from entering into the presence of the King of kings who loves her and cares for her. Her future is brighter than mine and yours today because she is in the very presence of joy Himself. Needless to say, I put off that incorrect doubting thought, remembered the truth, and left that little t-shirt on! I want to share with you all two truths that I have been dwelling on to help me as I grieve. The first is heaven is a far better home, and the second is the truth that Gods character is enough.

Over the past few months, I have been making a dedicated effort to think about Sofia’s bright future. It has taken a concerted effort on my part, as I grieve over the loss of Sofia, to not fixate entirely on what I have lost, but on what she has gained. This month Sofia would have turned four years old. It has been very hard for me to watch her siblings all get a year older and not think, “Sofia should be here for her birthday.” Some would say her future can’t be bright because she is no longer walking around on this earth. She is no longer in our home and her body is no longer with us. However, to stop here would only see Sofia’s future in the purely physical sense. We have it so easy and comfortable in our nation today that we can’t imagine a home outside of this one that would be better. We too often forget as Christians that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and ‘we have no lasting city here, but we seek the city that is to come.’ (Hebrews 13:14). Sofia’s completed her time on earth in her precious little body; but her future in heaven and the new earth is very real and very bright. She is currently, in her spirit, residing in her true eternal home. She is more at home now than she ever was in our house. I can assure you, her heavenly home is far better and far more brilliant than this earthly, sin-soaked home. As Christians we must remember that we desire, “a better county, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:16). This earth is not our home; therefore, you and I can rejoice that Sofia is safe in her eternal home.

She is currently, in her spirit, residing in her true eternal home. She is more at home now than she ever was in our house.

Towards the end of Sofia’s life on earth Justin and I made a concerted effort, under the encouragement of our elders, to prepare Sofia for heaven. So, every day we did just that. We did some of the things that we normally do just with a greater focus on heaven. I would read the Bible aloud to Sofia and often just play it for her so she could hear who this Jesus is she would soon meet face-to-face. We’d often say to each other, “I want her to be able to say when she arrives, ‘Hey I know this guy. That’s who my parents kept reading to me about.’” We would talk about heaven and what it might be like for her but more of our focus was on the character of God. There are many people who, incorrectly, want to go to heaven but they don’t want God to be there. For the Christian, that sounds quite awful. If God isn’t there, why would we want to go? It is with that in mind that I decided to focus on teaching Sofia even more about who God is rather than just what heaven will be like. After all, John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The whole point of our lives is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We do this by knowing Him. We partake in this incompletely right now. As Paul reminded the Corinthians, “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (1 Cor 13:12). One day we will see Christ clearly as He is and when we see Him we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). Dear friends, this is a glorious thought! Sofia at this moment, and for all of eternity, sees Christ completely clearly. She is not restrained by sin, pain, cancer, or any limitations of her mind, she has full awareness and understanding of the One who gave His life for her and she is in continual, unbroken fellowship with Him forever (Rev 21:4). She has more than she could ever need or want because she has Christ Himself! Her future is eternally bright!

Now, don’t get me wrong there are moments where images of that last week flash in my mind and Ill think of the last time I saw my sweet Sofia, and it grieves my heart. I read 1 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 and 1 Corinthians 15 often to remind myself to look forward to the resurrection. I have to continuously remember; she is more alive now than ever. Her death is only temporary; she will get her new body soon enough. Her future is bright because she resides in her true home and is continuously gazing upon the risen Christ, learning about him. She has all that she needs and more. Dear friends, if your earthly future is the only future you are looking forward to, you will be disappointed. This physical life is short compared to eternity, whether you live 3 years or 100 years. Eternity is a very long time. If you are reading this and don’t know Christ I pray you would truly repent and trust in Christs perfect sacrifice for your sins so that your future can be bright too.