“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” – John 11:25
Today I am saying goodbye to Danisha, the daughter of a dear friend and sister in Christ. After battling pancreatitis, pneumonia, and renal failure, this sweet young lady left this temporal world and entered eternity.
I have known Danisha for many years. She was the same age as my daughter. They went to the same church and shared much of their pre-adolescent and teen years together. Later, in their adult years, they traveled different paths, but I remained close to Danisha’s mother, Estelle. When I received the news that Danisha was in the hospital, I prayed, fully expecting the Lord to restore her to complete health, but He had other plans for her.
My heart is filled with great sadness today, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will see Danisha again one day in the kingdom of God. The immense sorrow of loss from death will become overwhelming joy in life everlasting! I know this because Danisha had professed the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour. When she understood that she was a sinner, as we all are, she recognized that Jesus, God’s precious Son, died on the cross for her… to take all the punishment for all the sins she had ever committed or ever would do. His resurrection from the dead proved that Jesus was truly the Saviour of the world, and He desired her to trust in Him. She did. Because of that, she became His child forever, and He began to prepare a place for her in heaven.
John 14:2 states, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” I have heard many speak of when Jesus is finished with an individual’s “place” in heaven that is when death comes. But I think differently. I believe that God takes us home when our work for Him is completed. Danisha’s work for her heavenly Father was finished sooner than anyone expected, and the time had come for her to go home to Him. 2 Timothy 4:7 records Paul’s words as he was close to dying. He wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
Danisha fought the good fight, finished her course and kept the faith. She is now in the presence of her beloved Saviour rejoicing and worshiping Him face to face. Her faith has become sight!
Will I miss her? Yes. Will her family miss her? Of course. But we are not as those without hope, as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
We will see you soon, sweet Danisha!
And then one day I’ll cross the river
And I’ll fight life’s final war with pain
And then as death gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
(from “Because He Lives” by Bill and Gloria Gaither)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
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“Love gives us memories; faith gives us strength.” – author unknown
A precious truth, Jayne, for this dear friend. I have prayed for Danisha’s mother, husband, and family during these past months of hospital stay and this time of grief. The gospel is a comfort to those who believe in Christ as their Saviour! And we look forward to that glad reunion day!