Rushing Water
There were several times throughout the evening Mary’s eyes widened and she looked up as if she could see something unbelievable. I wondered if she could see Jesus who I knew was present in the room.
That evening would be her last on earth. When I arrived in her small room, fuzzy noise came from the radio in the corner. The sound was irritating, and I could only imagine how it was ringing in Mary’s ears as she was already uncomfortable. I turned it off and tapped the Spotify app on my phone to find soothing worship. We were both comforted as we listened together, anticipating. She, her new home, and I, a final goodbye.
She would soon experience what no human can fully comprehend. We all eagerly wait for things like vacations, holidays and celebrations. Mary was about to gain something far greater. At the very moment that may have seemed like her lowest as she lay immobile in her inglorious room, she was about to experience something unimaginable. She was on the precipice of the City of God, a lavish home, that is hers now.
When speaking about death, people often comment, “they slipped away.” That night as I sat beside Mary, I pictured her “slipping away” to Heaven while I gently stroked her cold head with my warm hands. Because of her frailty, the idea of “slipping away” seemed appropriate. Although she did slip away from here, once she arrived at her promised land, I think she leapt.
I met Mary eight years ago when visiting her care home with a group from my church. After our group sang hymns, I sat at her table and we instantly clicked. She was a passionate, vivacious woman who had travelled the world, and accomplished much during her career working at McGill University. This was the beginning of an invaluable friendship.
Although Mary had lived a full life, Something was missing. She knew about Jesus, but didn’t have her own relationship with Him. I shared with her what Jesus had done for me, and how He lived on earth, suffered and died terribly, and rose to life to give us life. When I explained this, she too wanted to give her life to Jesus, and begin her own never-ending relationship with Him. And she did.
My Pastor used to say,
“If you died today and stood at the gates of Heaven and God asked, ‘Why should I welcome you?’ What would you say?”
The Good News of the Gospel provides us with an answer that hinges on Jesus’ completed work on the cross, not our effort. At those golden gates, our confident answer can be, because Jesus lived, died, and rose for me. When I heard about what He had done for me, I entrusted my life to Him and began a relationship with. I have been forgiven of all wrongdoing and given the righteousness of Christ.
Jesus is a real person, and when we receive forgiveness for our sins, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts, and we can speak and relate with Him supernaturally through prayer. We learn to hear His voice and follow His lead. There is nothing better than to entrust yourself fully to the One who created you. He knows what will fulfill you and what your purpose is. We don’t need to figure it all out, we simply get to give it all to Him.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The moment you choose to give your life to Jesus, you exchange your sin for his righteousness, and you become His child. Your salvation is sealed.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ.” - Romans 3:23
As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we will experience figurative “deaths” as His life becomes stronger in us. Our hearts become spaces for God’s life, and purposes to take shape.
“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 ESV
When we choose to follow Jesus, He changes us from the inside out. As we cooperate with Him, our old ways of living and thinking pass away and renewal takes place, day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
As our old life “slips away”, our strides towards new life in Christ become increasingly strong. When we experience “dying to self”, it can feel like we are “slipping away” because we may feel weak and powerless as we let go of things that once gave us a sense of security, importance or power. As we allow God’s Spirit to work in us, we make room for His living water to bubble deep in our souls.
In John 4:14, Jesus said, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
As I sang hummed gentle worship songs in Mary’s room that night, the melodies brought us both peace. Although I can’t be where Mary is now, I can keep getting to know the all-surpassing Jesus, who she is with. The Scripture says the sound of His voice is like running water. The Apostle John describes his vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:15 saying, “His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.”
In every space you are experiencing a “death”, or a difficult ending, may Jesus fill your soul with sounds of rushing waters that fill your heart with His courage. For us who believe, every death makes space for brand new life.
Christian author Dee Breston writes, “Dying is always hard, but for believers, resurrection follows every dying to self.”
In the late hours of the night, as I gently touched Mary’s cheek, I whispered, Jesus, please take care of her. Welcome her home. And He did. And she died. And she leapt.
Mary, one day, when I arrive there, I hope we can do many things we never had the chance to try here. I think leaping will be first on our list.
See you soon, great adventurer.
Thank you for being my friend.
