ONE JOYFUL REUNION

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the               clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”                           (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

At the age of five, a boy from India by the name of Saroo got separated from his older brother. Searching for his sibling, the young lad boarded a train, fell asleep, and traveled for days before he was able to get off. Now alone in the large city of Calcutta – he finds himself hungry, afraid and unable to speak the language. He ends up in a state-sponsored orphanage from where he is blessed to be adopted by an Australian couple. He grew up in Tasmania with nurturing parents and a somewhat troubled brother, who was also adopted.  As he progresses into his twenties, he is bothered by the fact that even many years later his family might still be wondering what happened to him. He embarks on an all-consuming journey to find his way back to them, with only a few vague memories of his past for assistance. Utilizing online digital mapping software, he eventually identifies his birthplace and travels back to find his biological mother and younger sister still living in the same village. There he has an emotional reunion, as he learns that his brother was killed on the same night in which they were separated decades before. His mother never gave up hope and believed that one day her missing son would return. The wonderful reunion story can be found in the non-fiction book A Long Way Home or viewed in the Oscar-nominated 2016 film Lion.

Not all reunions are quite so dramatic. A friend of mine told me about an experience she had at a retirement luncheon. The event was in conjunction with an anniversary celebration of the company for whom she had been employed.  While the gathering was very nice, there were a number of people who had been inadvertently omitted from the list of invitees. This evoked some emotional upset, ranging from hurt feelings to anger. While the employer made a good faith last-minute effort to correct the situation, there were those who felt slighted or assumed that they were intentionally missed. Maybe you have had a similar experience as part of a large family or high school reunion committee. You may remember that attempting to find those folks who have not been in the fold for a while can sometimes be difficult. Or you may have been one who was missed, knowing exactly how it felt to be excluded.

Perhaps the best reunion story ever told came from Jesus in the Parable of the Son found in Luke 15:11-32.  It is the well-known tale of a man with two sons, the younger of whom asks his father for his portion of the estate. Upon its receipt – he departed to another country, lived a wild life, and squandered his wealth. Finding himself poor and destitute in the midst of a famine, he “came to his senses” (v 17) realizing that returning home as a hired servant would be better than the circumstances in which he found himself. As he goes home he throws himself at the mercy of his father, surprised that he is greeted by a loving and compassionate parent. The reunion is a bit clouded when a jealous brother appears, discovering that the red carpet has been rolled out for his vanished brother. After being confronted with rage by the son who has been faithful, “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!'” (v 31, 32).

This reunion story reflects the amazing patience that God demonstrates for us. Even when we act selfishly, He indulges us. He yields out of the respect for the freedom He Has given us, desiring that we will learn our lesson and come back to Him. God’s children never have to experience permanent separation, if they repent their misdoings and obey His laws. When we do so, we realize that own place is secure and our heavenly reward is salvaged. One day you and I will participate in a great reunion with our friends and loved ones who shared a belief in Jesus, the Son of God. It was He who said that “just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:20). We should, therefore, establish actions He would desire. For when it’s time for the reunion, we’ll assure our place on the list not forcing Him to say, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).

REFLECTION: Why is the concept of reunions so important to Christians?  How would you speak with a new believer who is concerned about reuniting with other loved ones in Christ?

A NEW LOOKUP  DEVOTION IS UPLOADED EACH WEEK. THE NEXT WEEKLY POSTING WILL BE ON SAT., JUNE 17, 2017.  COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED.

 

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