Leaving Family, Going Home

Whenever I have an employee take another job, I always ask the same question. Are you "going to something" or "leaving from something". This is a matter of gauging intent. The strange thing is when someone dies, they are doing both and it is not a question of intent. They are going home and they are leaving family. They are ripped from those closest to them but ushered into a new home, one they have always longed for. This brings this a strange conundrum of mourning and celebration together.

My friend Greg Gerycz passed away suddenly Thursday morning. Greg was part of a circle of friends that we have been close to for many years. Greg was my age so it reinforced a sense of my own mortality. It has really brought it close to home. Greg leaves a loving wife Gail and two adult boys, two daughters-in-law, and one grandchild. Greg had a relationship with Jesus Christ and I am confident that he was ushered into his presence on Thursday.

Home is somewhere we long for. To the believer, this world is not our home. We are sojourners and ambassadors, but not citizens. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20) and we eagerly desire to go there. Jesus is putting the light on (to quote the Motel 6 commercial) and preparing the place for us to go (John 14:1-3) and it will be a lovely place indeed (Psalm 84). Most importantly, Greg is now forever in the presence of Jesus, something we groan for (Rom. 8:23, 2 Cor. 5:2). From 1998 or so to 2005, I traveled a lot. I was gone most every week. It never got old to arrive back home and be back in my own house with my family. Greg has been on a very long business trip; he got a lot done; built a lot of friendships, but now he has arrived home. And that is cause for celebration.

So why do we also mourn? Because Greg has left us. Death is a result of the fall, resurrection is a result of the gift. So death carries a bitter sting (1 Cor. 15:56) - someone is ripped from our presence leaving a huge hole. I find it interesting that when Jesus raised Lazarus to life, he wept before doing so. Jesus knew He would heal Lazarus - that is why He delayed. So why would He weep? Because Jesus in his perfect humanity knew the pain death leaves behind. So mourning is to be expected. But the Scriptures say we are not to mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13).  We can say the Bible is full of hope. The word hope appears 132 times in the Bible. Why - because our hope is in Christ and that means reunification. The Berlin Wall separating us from loved ones who pass on will eventually come down. We will soon be with Greg again. The closing words of 1 Thess. 4:18 states it perfectly "therefore comfort one another with these words".