I have said on many occasions, If we live long enough we will have more friends in heaven than we do on earth. Yesterday God added to the ever growing list of my friends who now wait for me in heaven. Amid all the earthly activities that I’m involved in I was forced to pause long enough to preach the funeral service of my friend. As I rejoiced over all the good things God is doing in my life, I had to pause to weep. As I struggled to deal with the unpleasant problems of life, my burden became greater as I watched the casket close for the last time.
As I left the cemetary and headed home I was reminded of several things. My friend and I did not agree on many issues, but we were friends. My friend, like me, wasn’t perfect, but we were friends. Both of us understood that friendship doesn’t depend on seeing eye-to-eye on every issue. Our common bond was a personal relationship with Christ. That compelled us to love one another. We made a choice to be friends, in spite of our differences, and we were the happier for it.
O how I wish that everyone understood the importance of friendship. Life is tough and we all need all the help we can get. Friends have a way of making life easier. We need to stop fussing about the imperfections of others and learn to love those that God brings into our life. God loves us unconditionally and that’s the way we should love others. Because of Christ, God accepted you, faults and all, how then can you refuse to welcome others into your circle of friends? Learn to love others and someday, if you live long enough, you will have more friends in heaven than you do on earth. Think about it!
