Saying Goodbye To A Friend

Acts 20"36-38 "And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."

A couple of months ago I made a new friend. He and his wife visited our church and we just seem to hit it off. Maybe it is because we have so much in common or maybe it is because we have a common bond in Jesus Christ. In all honesty, I know very little about my new friend and his wife, other than the fact that they are moving away. Just when I was getting to know them and we were able to have some fellowship together, God decides to move them away. As I was thinking about this it reminded me that it isn't really goodbye, but rather just so long. I have become quite accustomed to saying "so long, see you later" in my lifetime. I left home right out of high school and have only been back on rare occasions. As God has used us in the ministry for almost 30 years, we have come to and gone from too many locations. Each of these meant saying those same words once again - "so long, see you later". It was difficult at first, because we were just getting started in life and ministry and the thought of not seeing these folks was difficult to accept. Now the years have gone by and most of those we have never seen. Hold on now, before you begin to get teary eyed, let me assure you that there is some joy in this thought. The joy is that as the years have passed by, we have all gotten that much closer to the day we will be together again in Heaven. Some of those that we have bid farewell to, such my own dad, are awaiting us in Glory. Isn't it nice to know that being saved means never having to say "goodbye". So, scratch that title at the top and lets just say "so long, see you later". I like the sound of that better anyway.