Blessed Hope

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39 NKJV)

What do these verses convey?  What do we think of when we read this? I can't say that I have dwelt on the meaning and richness of these verses in a long time if truly ever. Have I read them or heard them taught or even quoted them? Of course! But the richness and depth of them becomes so real ...

I have a very dear friend,  Edwin Rivera, younger than I by a year.  We have shared so many experiences and wonderful memories. We went to college together for 4 years. He is one of my closest friends that became my closest friend in that experience and years. We pulled all-nighters studying together more times than is healthy!  We would look out for each other as brother and sister with care and pranks, especially those college years, but also since then.  Our home towns were close, so going home from college for the weekend didn't mean much distance and we got to hang out a lot. We would later share a common faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord brought him to a point where he would accept my invitation to come to youth group and he received the Lord that very night!  Once he came to the Lord, he was radically saved!  We would share a church and close circle of friends, brothers & sisters in Christ.  He grew in the Lord amazingly fast with great discernment and love of the Lord, which I later had to witness at a distance as I moved to Rochester about 7 months after he got saved.  He married Luan Negron, my best friend from church (and close circle of friends) and I was privileged to return to PR to be the maid of honor at their wedding. On every trip to my home land, I was sure to see them, even when bringing with me other friends that were also blessed to meet him.  I shared meeting both their boys, Edan and Diego, as the Lord added to their family.  I got to see how the Lord raised him up as a youth pastor of the church. I also got to visit with him at the hospital several years ago when I was visiting Puerto Rico and he was sick, although always joyful.  What great times of fellowship! How we laughed together and cried together over the  years! The work of the Lord through him and his ministry in the church has grown amazingly and how the Lord has used him blesses me more than words can express.

Edwin, Luan, Edan and I at the church in Arecibo Dec 2010

Now, I am in flight to PR again, but this time going to share with my friend at his funeral. At his young age, Edwin had a disease, which affected his liver among other things and although we didn't think he would be departing with the Lord so soon, he has been called to be in His presence.  These verses take on new meaning when suddenly I face death, when a dear friend has beat me to Glory. Oh, how I rejoice that he IS in Glory with the Lord!

Edwin, Luan, Edan and Diego Feb 2011

when I came to PR to go to Haiti

The verses above were the ones that a friend shared with me as I texted and shared with some of my brothers and sisters to be praying for my friend and about his subsequent passing to glory just yesterday.  Death cannot separate us from the love of God. A life with this loss cannot separate us from the love of God. The sorrow cannot separate us from the love of God. God loves us always, He is ever present, always loving, always good. Death in this body further unites us with God. It has lost its sting. Death cannot separate us from the love of God. God is good and His love endures!

I hadn't talked with my friends in a while. We didn't talk daily or even weekly like we used to. What had happened? Why not? Did we care any less for each other? No. Life happened. There are only so many hours in the day. I was busy, they were busy. Life goes on and the days go on faster than we would think. Life might separate us from earthly friends, but life cannot separate us from the love of God. How constant! How dependable! How strong!

We endure spiritual warfare. The enemy is like a roaring lion seeking whom he can devour, yet he can do nothing to separate us from the love of God.  The business, joys, sorrows, problems, hurts, pains, fears, nor anything that we are going through is big enough to separate us from the love of God. There is nothing we will go through that can separate us from the love of God! Nothing or no one can separate us from His love.

As I type this, I am listening to Mighty to Save.  Yes, He is! He is mighty to have saved my friend! Mighty to have saved me! Mighty to have saved many through his ministry.  My friend is gone from this present suffering, but God is mighty to save and we shall see each other again!! God is mighty to save his wife from the pain of missing him, mighty to save his boys from any need they may experience as part of living the rest of their life without their earthly father by supplying all their need according to His riches in glory. He will always be their Heavenly Father, Everlasting Father! Mighty to save his mom as she endures the sorrow of losing her only child, her son. Please join me in prayer for them as the Lord works on their behalf as I trust He will.

Tonight, they had a worship service at the funeral home, which unfortunately I was unable to make as I arrive too late, but I am confident that the church body was worshipping the Lord with my friend's family and ministering to them. Tomorrow will be the funeral and I am thankful I will be able to make it for that at least. I will be staying with Luan, my dear friend, & her boys for several days and I look forward to catch up with her and celebrate Edwin's life in Jesus, rejoicing in the fruit of the love of the Lord in and through his life.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14 NKJV)

Have I cried with this news? Definitely! Even as I write these thoughts, too. Praise the Lord that the lights in the plane are off!  Will I cry some more? Guaranteed! Jesus wept, even knowing He would resurrect Lazarus. I will see my friend again. I believe it. I know it.  I have that hope. I will introduce him to new friends I met since I moved away from PR, that I could not have the chance to introduce to him before. We shall rejoice together in the presence of Jesus. I have this hope in a Mighty Savior God!