This past Monday we thought Janice's mom was going home to be with the Lord. Mom Lehman is a godly, humble, loving woman who served the Lord Jesus faithfully for many, many years, but has had advanced alzheimer's for over 15 years and no longer seems to recognize even her closest loved ones. She is ready to go home to be with her Lord.

So on Monday we went to Williamsport to say what we thought might well be our last goodbyes, but now she seems to be recovering, so apparently it isn't the Lord's timing for her to leave this planet yet.

But while we were saying our goodbyes, it got me thinking about that inevitable and awe-inspiring day when each of us must say goodbye to everyone and everything we know in this world. For the Christian that is a glorious day, a day filled with hope and joy, because we know that to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." We will be with Jesus! What a thought!

And yet, like Mom Lehman, it is a monumental transition for us as our grip on this world loosens and we pass from this world to the eternal realm. I thought of her eternal soul passing from this world into the kingdom of Christ and was both sobered and comforted by the thought.

We don't know when that day will come for us. Only the Lord knows when He will say, "it's time, come home." In the meantime, let's redeem the time - for the Lord has redeemed us! And the days are evil (Eph. 5:16), which I think means that time is not a neutral agent in this fallen world but a current that presses toward sin and evil, but as the Lord's servants we are to press time into the King's service by redeeming each day and each minute for the glory of Jesus and the advance of His gospel.

Then when it's time to leave this world, we will be ready. Ready to say goodbye to this world. And ready to say hello to our Savior who made us ready by washing us clean with His blood and redeeming us back to our God through His sacrifical death. What a day that will be!