IN THE SWEET BY AND BY

I am grateful for another Sunday morning church service at our local nursing home. I love these services. My husband plays the guitar and we sing with a large roomful of residents. We sing old hymns and we sing new hymns.

As a rule Gertie, one of the residents, does not sing out loud unless someone sings with her. When I walked over and grasped her hands she “looked up” at me and her eyes widened, I mean they really got wide, and her face brightened. With a smile and a glow she began to sing … in the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore … I was so blessed I wanted to cry. This is the Lord, this is the Holy Ghost, this is the joy of salvation and the joy of the Lord. It is real, and only those who know the Lord would understand.

Gertie did “look up” at me but she could not see me with her physical eyes because she is blind. But I know that she “sees” something far more important and far greater. She sees in the spiritual realm. The message today was a salvation message, a simple message about Christ dying for the ungodly (Romans 5:6-11) and as my husband preached you could hear Gertie’s amen. After the service, I wheeled Gertie back to her room. I prayed with her and she became enthusiastic when I made reference to the Holy Ghost in my prayer. She thanked me for praying and I left.

When you look at Gertie’s outward physical appearance you will see a quiet elderly lady who is blind and cannot walk. But upon closer observation, you will see her treasure, you will see the light which shines from her heart, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Today’s sermon was based on the following scripture:

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. {in due time: or, according to the time}

Romans 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. {atonement: or, reconciliation}