“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” Ps17:15
It took about a week to organize Jude’s celebration of her life service and some of our families travelled from England.
Pastor Tim & the fellowship at New Testament Church, Ballynahinch honoured Jude’s life in an amazing way followed by internment at Lough Inch Cemetery also in Ballynahinch.
I have come to call the cemetery a, “closet“, since it only contains Jude’s remains. Like all believers whose natural bodies have fallen asleep, the, “real” Jude, her spirit and soul are with the LORD. She is fully conscious in Paradise and in The LORD’s presence awaiting the final resurrection to come. The following verses have been a great comfort to me and when I visit the “closet”, I would often quote them.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
If after reading the devotional you would like to watch the service of song and testimony then please:
Prayer
Father, Thankyou for Jude’s life and the assurance that she has simply taking a step into eternity. One day we will be re-united and see you together along with the multitude of saints face to face
Thankyou for allowing me to share her life especially granting me the honour of being her husband, it has been an amazing privilege.
Samuel Rutherford said, “They are not lost to you that are laid up in Christ’s treasury in Heaven. At the resurrection ye shall meet with them: there they are, sent before but not sent away. Your LORD loveth you, who is homely to take and give, borrow and lend”
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Jude Gray 