Alone Again But Not For Long

She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways

by William Wordsworth

She dwelt among the untrodden ways

Beside the springs of Dove,

A maid whom there were none to praise

And very few to love:

A violet by a mossy stone

Half hidden from the eye!

Fair as a star-- when only one

Is shining in the sky.

She lived unknown, and few could know

When Lucy ceased to be;

But she is in her grave, and, oh,

The difference to me!

There are few things in life that cut so deep as the passing of a loved one. While I cannot speak from experience, and I pray that I may not taste of such for many years if the Lord delays, the passing of one’s spouse is truly heart wrenching. I cannot imagine life without Robyn. As the poet wrote so well, though one may be unknown and obscure to the world, his or her passing makes all the difference in the world to the spouse.

At the passing of a friend, one whom Jesus knew would be raised from the dead, Jesus wept (John 11:35). How much more sorrow is felt when that person that makes us complete is taken from us? Yet, we who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and who have obeyed the gospel obtaining life in His name do not sorrow like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We have faith in Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).

We look forward to the joyful reunion when this world has come to an end. Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ shall rise. We long for the moment when those faithful Christians who have passed from this life are raised from the dead, including our dear loved ones. Those faithful Christians who are alive at Jesus’ coming will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus shall we always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Paul was right in saying that we should comfort one another with these words. It is a comfort to know that we can spend eternity with the Godhead who loved us, created the world, gave us life, gave us relationships, and gave us hope of eternal life.

While we understand that there will be no marriage in heaven (Matthew 22:28-30), it is a great comfort to know that a marriage formed according to God’s will (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:3-9), a marriage that continues in God’s will for the home (Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4; 1 Peter 3:1-7), and a marriage where both parties remain faithful until death (2 Timothy 4:6-8), will pave the way for these two souls to spend eternity together with all the saints in heaven. Brethren, that makes a difference to me!


Written by Denny Wilson

Read Denny's first post on this subject entitled "alone"