Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:14-16

Today is “All Saints’s Day.” Today and tomorrow we remember those who have gone to heaven ahead of us. We celebrate their victory and the life of faithfulness that each one of them lived, as an example for us to follow.

I personally have a quite a growing crowd of witnesses to God’s faithfulness gathering there. Both of my sets of grandparents; my own Mom and Dad, my Father-in-Law, two sisters, a brother, and a granddaughter have all made it there ahead of me. I look forward to seeing them again and worshiping together.

They were all, each one, a part of “The Israel of God,” the faithful remnant who cling to His Word and trust in His salvation. Always a minority in this world, often persecuted even by people who claim to be His, but aren’t. This has nothing to do with ethnicity or religious observance, and everything to do with their relationship with God; a new creation.

Their lives may not have seemed important as the world measures importance, and the way each of them died might have seemed like a defeat in the eyes of this world. But I knew and loved each of them and I saw them live their lives, up close. 

This world’s opinion doesn’t count for much where these things are concerned, does it? For each of them, death was swallowed up in victory. They went home, and there they await me. What a glorious legacy each of them left me!

Lord Jesus, thank You for the faithful life and victorious home-going of these saints, every one of them who left such a testimony of Your faithful forgiveness, mercy and grace, and went ahead of us to heaven. Blessed be their memory, and blessed are we to have known them. Lord, keep me as one of Your faithful ones, too, today. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles