Luke 23:43
Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.“
Do you ever ponder on the thought that at the instant your last breath escapes you
you will be in the presence of the Lord?
This very assurance was given by Jesus to the thief beside Him on the cross, guaranteeing that
instantly at death’s threshold, he would join Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:8
We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Imagine, what will that first moment in His presence be like?
The Hit Song
I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me
was written Bart Millard and inspired by his personal life and the death of his father
The story behind the song is deeply rooted in Bart Millard’s relationship with his father, Arthur Wesley Millard Jr., who passed away in 1991. Bart’s father was abusive towards him during his childhood, especially after Bart’s mother left. However, his father’s demeanor and their relationship dramatically changed after his father was diagnosed with cancer. During the final years of his life, Arthur Millard became a Christian and his character transformed, leading to a reconciliation between father and son.
The loss of his father deeply affected him
In 2018, it became a movie
I Can Only Imagine (2018) | Full Movie | J. Michael Finley | Madeline Carroll | Dennis Quaid (youtube.com)
The title “I Can Only Imagine” reflects his contemplation of what his father was experiencing in the afterlife and what it would be like to be in the presence of God himself.
The lyrics say it all:
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
The moment I truly understood what it would mean to be face to face with the Lord came during a profoundly personal experience—when my daughter Andrea entered hospice care.
Andrea was at peace, ready to meet the Lord, comforted by her faith in Him and the assurance that she would soon be in His presence. She wanted me to play the song “I Can Only Imagine” at her funeral
As I sit beside her bed in the rocking chair, watching her sleep, I find myself lost in thought, reflecting on the song and wondering…….
What will I do when I come face to face with the Lord?
I find myself filled with awe, at the thought of my daughter in the presence of the Lord
As we ponder this question,
let us cling to the hope and assurance of that ultimate encounter, believing that our responses, whatever they may be, will be embraced within the infinite grace and love of the Lord.
Join me on my journey paved by God’s guidance – I invite you to join me and find inspiration in the remarkable ways God moves in our lives (echosofmyfootsteps.com)
