Sad day brings interesting view of death

Friday, I received a very unexpected phone call.  My uncle Jimmy had suddenly passed away.  Jimmy was a picture of health and at 61 years old he too young to die.  This has really hit hard because I felt that I was close to Jimmy.  In fact, I had just talked with him Thursday.  This morning I got up to go to church.  I was installed as an Elder in my church today so I had to be there.  I really did not feel up to it but I knew that this was important.  Becoming an Elder is a big thing and I want to make sure I do my job no matter how hard life is.  As I sat down in my seat,  I checked my email on my phone and saw that my daily devotional, Sportsmen's Devotional, had come in.  I read this devotional everyday and I truly believe that God uses this platform to communicate to me.  This morning the verse came from Matthew 13:47-50.  It reads like this in the NIV bible;


"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (NIV)

Even though this verse is talking about the end of days, my brain is able to see this verse in a different way.  We are all like fish and God is the great fisherman.  This fisherman probably fishes everyday.  He throws his net into the water and with one quick swoop he pulls in his catch.  Then he goes to the shore and goes through this process of filtering out the bad fish and throwing them back into the water.  Now, God goes through this process everyday and people are brought to heaven to be with him for eternity (If you really think about it he lets the net down every second but for the purpose of this thought, we will say everyday).  This is what happened with my uncle Jimmy.  He was caught in God's net.  Those of us here on earth were just left here until one day that net will catch us and we will go to heaven.  But you know, I was thinking and really picturing us as fish.  I mean I was really picturing us as fish (as in a mini Nemo movie playing in my head).  I know it sounds silly, but this is how my brain works.  I was swimming along and I saw this boat coming.  I saw the net and I saw my uncle Jimmy being lifted up out of the water.  Never once was I scared but as I looked around many of the other fish were swimming away, hiding from the net.  I also heard screaming from the net but it wasn't coming from Jimmy.  In fact it was coming from just a few of the fish (I imagine these were the fish that were not prepared and were soon to meet their fate of eternal damnation) .  Jimmy and the others were extremely excited about being gathered up in the net.  It was like they knew they were safe.  You know so many people in this world run from God.  They try to avoid having any kind of relationship with God.  Is it because they are scared of death or maybe it could be that they are afraid of what they will become.  Who knows?  Here's what I know, I know God and I wanted in that net.  As I was day dreaming I felt that hurt as I saw my uncle Jimmy being lifted up in the net.  I felt the pain of losing someone you love.  But then I felt a peace because I knew that the fisherman would be back.  One day it will be my day to be caught in that net.  I don't know when.  Maybe it will be the final day like this verse is talking about but I know that it is coming and I am ready.  I think what hurts so much when we lose someone is the fact they are in heaven and we are not.  We have to remain imperfect beings that live in pain and sadness everyday. 

    One thing I want to say before closing.  Don't be like those fish I saw swimming away.  You do not have to be afraid of the great fisherman.  As you can read for yourself, one day will be your last and you will be caught in that net.  You better be prepared by knowing God.  The screaming I heard from the net where souls that have been running away from God and they were caught by death.  Death in the body is permanent and it is inevitable.  Weather you want death to be permanent in Spirit is up to you.  All you have to do is to know God and except Jesus as your Savior.  It is that simple.  Knowing God,  guarantees your spot in heaven.  With the hope of that guarantee, you will live a better life the short time you are here on earth.  Don't wait until it is to late.  Your last second here on earth can be anytime.  My uncle Jimmy was prepared and I pray that you will be too.

God Bless, Jay

Jimmy you will be missed and never forgotten.  I will see you soon!!!