I am so blessed that God has gifted me a little beach retreat at a village in Saskatchewan, Canada, called Manitou Beach. While my renovation may never be complete, I feel so blessed here. I feel so close to God, enjoying His beautiful creation. Despite the weather, it is so peaceful out walking, listening to the birds, seeing the deer, and watching the lake. The other day, I was walking beside the water. In contrast to the heat of the day, the wind felt delightful, blowing against my skin. There are some spectacular sunsets at the beach. This evening was no exception. As I continued walking west, I noted the beauty of God's sunset: the pinks, the yellows, and almost red colours — so vivid that some of the white structures in the village took on pinkish hues. It was so beautiful, and then, seemingly in an instant, the sun disappeared below the horizon. I felt a bit deflated, until I thought, "Ah! But the sun will rise again tomorrow morning."

This walk brought to mind the parallel between the sun's course and our lives in the Christian faith. Living our lives here on earth, we — like the weather — are subject to periods of tranquil beauty and also to storms and wind. One day, sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly, our earthly lives are brought to a close. Like the sun, our lives slip below the horizon and out of view. As Christians, though, we know that like the sun, we will rise again, for we claim Christ's promise of everlasting life.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

Even though our lives may have slipped below the horizon out of earthly view, we know that this is not the end. We cannot see life eternal, but we know that there is life everlasting because we are promised this in the Bible.

Are you grieving the loss of someone dear to you? Are you discouraged watching special friends or relatives coming to the end of their days on earth? Remind yourself that Jesus Christ died and rose again for us, so that we can live forever! Remind those loved ones that Jesus Christ gave His life as a sacrifice so that the sins of those who believe in Him could be forgiven. We can all live forever if we claim Him as our Saviour!

John 5:24 – I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (NIV)

Prayer: Dear God, You have given us so many beautiful gifts to enjoy here on earth: our families and friends, the beauty of Your creation, the animals and the birds, changes in weather, the sun that brings heat to our earth, and the refreshing rain. Most importantly, You have given us Your Son. We have wept with Him as His body was beaten and crucified for us. We have rejoiced with Him as He rose triumphantly from the dead. Now we claim the promise of the life everlasting. Each day as we witness the rising of the sun, help us to remember that after our lives here on earth are concluded and out of view, the lives of those who trust Him are just beginning in heaven. Amen.

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About the author:

Orlanda Drebit <orlandadrebit@hotmail.com>
Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada
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