Who Can Come?

Life on the Pasture

I officiated a funeral for the first time since the “Safer at Home” rules went into effect. It was a different feeling to be at a funeral home with only nine others present. The funeral director recorded the service for others who could not be there, which made me wonder (but not ask) how it is decided who comes and who doesn’t.

Unfortunately, some have used the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to paint a portrait of God which He does not paint of Himself in the Holy Scriptures. In their depiction (not God’s), He has sent the pandemic as punishment for the sins of the world, disregarding the whole reason Jesus came to this earth and suffered and died on the cross. As Isaiah tells us, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t consequences for sinful actions. The fact is, since Adam and Eve fell into sin the world has been in a broken state. And, yes, God does use tragic events as reminders of our brokenness and the need for a Savior. What is more, the bad events make us long for the new creation that is to come. The New Testament uses the analogy of birth pains. What we are going through now is leading up to the glorious Day when our Lord returns and we will be home in heaven. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words in Romans 8, “All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” (Romans 8:22–25, The Message)

But we are not the only ones eagerly anticipating that great Day. So is our Lord. He does not describe Himself as One who delights in bringing punishment, but rather as One who draws people closer to Him, walking with them through the valley of the shadow of death, patient with them as He was with Job who grew impatient with God in the midst of His suffering, longing for the day when we will be together as a Bridegroom with His Bride.

God is love, and that’s what love does. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8, NIV)

We could add, “Love doesn’t cap the number invited to join the heavenly celebration.”

– Pastor Schmidt