It is Well

The buzzing text message awoke us to the news that our dear friend, Joseph, had passed away in Manila.  Barely awake and we were grappling with yet another loss of a loved one.  Our hearts sank at the news and yet, at the same time, we rejoiced that he finished his race well and is now forever with the Lord. I thought about how I would like to see what he is seeing right now and to hear the words he is hearing… “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  The last time we saw Joseph was on a flight to Hong Kong.  I wrote about that encounter back in 2019.  In light of his passing, it seems even more appropriate.  So, as a remembrance, I’d like to repost it now.  He truly was a “First Class Friend“…

First posted 8.15.2019

First Class Friend

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, we were surprised to run into a friend we haven’t seen in at least a decade.  If we had walked down the other aisle, we wouldn’t have even known he was on our flight, as we headed back to our economy seats.  He was just as surprised as we were!  This dear man has always been such an encourager to us.  Nothing has changed.  It was fun to catch up with him after all these years.

After our flight, he waited for us to deplane. We walked together to the transfer desk, as both of us were continuing onto other destinations.  Once through security, he led us into an elevator that goes to a place I’d heard of, but never thought I would see…the First Class Lounge.  “Oh no!” I thought, “We can’t get in there, we’re economy passengers!”  He just smiled as he spoke briefly with the ladies at the front desk.  Then, he turned to us and said, “Come on, let’s go!”. We walked right in.  He began to take us around and show us all we had access to.  Then he led us to a posh dining room and said, “Ok, goodbye now.  Have fun!  Enjoy as much as you want”.  Then, he left to catch his next flight.  My eyes began to tear up; overwhelmed by his kindness and generosity.  Suddenly, I was aware of my appearance after our 14 hour flight…my disheveled hair, my discount jeans still bearing the remnants of an in-flight meal, and my wrinkled Costco blouse.  I was embarrassed. I knew I didn’t belong there.

But a bit later, as I sat there enjoying the first class service, the exotic fruits, my coconut and quinoa porridge, and cappuccino; the situation made me think.   I will arrive in heaven one day tattered from all of my failures in this life’s journey, but God doesn’t see us as we see ourselves.  He will only see the righteousness of His Son.  And one day, He will welcome us with open arms. Not because we’ve earned it, or because we deserve it, but only because of our relationship with Jesus.  No need to be embarrassed. We will belong. What a good, good Father.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy… ”  Jude 1:24