“How beautiful Heaven must be, Sweet home of the happy and free; Fair haven of rest for the weary, How beautiful heaven must be. ”
We all sang that evening at the Bible Study . Something prompted me to look at Sarah’s face as she sang.
Her face was lit up with Joy and Happiness, it looked so beautiful like I had never seen before. I went back to my singing, praying within my heart as I sang. Message started and once again I glanced at Sarah to see her so focused on the Preacher and what he was saying.
“Something is different about my friend tonight, that I don’t understand ” I thought as I turned back my attention to the message.
” I don’t know why the message is coming like this tonight as this was not even what I prepared to preach. It looks like someone might not have another opportunity after tonight. Let us set our lives right, that his coming meet us not unaware; that death catches us not unprepared. ” The Pastor said as he rounded up to lead us in Prayer. I cried and prayed as I asked God to assist me in the journey to Heaven.
After the Prayer, I looked at Sarah again to see her beaming with Joy. We shared the Grace and she walked up to me as we were going to trek a long way to the school hostel together.
Our discussion as we went was all about how Heaven would be as she didn’t stop asking me how I felt about Heaven and how it would be meeting the Saints who have gone ahead.
“I will meet Abraham, David, Moses, Kenneth Hagin, Billy Graham. Wow, I will see Jesus.” She said smiling and I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening.
We got to the hostel , and we agreed I cook for us. All through the moment I cooked and our other roommates were discussing ( we were six), Sarah sat with her Bible and held it so dear like a lifeline. We ate in silence until at a point, she said “Mercy, we must get to Heaven together. Even if one of us goes ahead , the other should make it too. No matter the difference between the time we go home, I want to see you and be happy we both made it. “She said to me lovingly and I replied “God will help us.. But Sarah, hope you are fine? ”
“Mercy” she started “I have never been this fine. I just feel so happy. ”
As I lay beside her to sleep as we shared a corner , I heard her sing silently “Home! Beautiful Home! Bright, beautiful Home! Bright Home of our Saviour, Bright, beautiful Home.”
“Sarah” I called out “don’t forget we are waking up to pray by 3:00am .I have a feeling you might really sleep tonight , so arise when I wake you . And please, wake me up in case you awake ahead of me. ” I said.
“Alright, dear. ” she replied gently .”Mercy! “She called out.
“Yes ”
” I Love you. Hope you know that? “She said.
“I know sweetie .And I love you too. Thanks for been there for me. “I replied smiling.
“Good night, dear “She said as she looked at me with a smile.
” Good night “I replied as I took my best position to sleep. Before I slept, I prayed and asked God to wake me up by 3:00am to pray.
I woke up hours later with a Strange feeling. I checked my phone, it was around 1:00am.I closed my eyes to sleep back but tears found its way out of my eyes. I couldn’t tell why but I kept crying. I did for about 3minutes, and suddenly I felt this Peace I can’t explain. I glanced at my friend but I couldn’t see her face as she faced the other side. I wondered what just happened and few minutes later I slept off.
In answer to my prayer, I woke up 3:00am. I called out to Sarah before I stood up, but I didn’t hear her reply. I stood up ,walked up to her bed and touched her to wake up. My friend didn’t answer me. At this point, I became scared. I turned her to face me, and a look at her face told me she was gone. Gone to that place she so much talked about. I called her, pleading to her to come back and to God to give me back my friend. She had this smile on her face. Our Conversations, her words as we ate and as we came home from Church flooded my mind.
Her look as she said “I love you ” and “Mercy, we must get to Heaven together. Even if one of us goes ahead , the other should make it too. No matter the difference between the time we go home, I want to see you and be happy we both made it. “I remembered how she sang during the Service and how she looked.
“I should have known “I said to myself.
I remembered Paul’s words. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.( 1 Thessalonians 4 : 13 -18)”
I would miss her so much but for some reasons I wasn’t too sad. I looked at her face tenderly as I said to no one in particular ” You have gone to that Haven of Rest you talked about. You are probably searching for all the Heroes of Faith .” I smiled gently as a tear dropped. I slept off kneeling there beside her till I was awoken by daybreak by the shout of our roommates and Hall mates.
People looked at me with pity knowing how close we were.
At her funeral ,as I stood to pour sand on her coffin as a sign of last respect to her I said ” See you later Sarah, at Our Haven of Rest. Let me go and prepare too, so we’ll see each other like you wanted. Meet all the Saints, so there will be someone to show me around when I get there. Good night my dear, till we meet at THE HAVEN OF REST.
How prepared are you for the Lord’s return?
If your eyes were to close in death, where will you spend Eternity?
Are you prepared for the Haven of Rest?
Do you wish to see the face of the one who gave his life for you?
” Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning” Mark 13:35.
If you’ve lost a loved one, Sorrow not, as they are waiting to see you up there .Don’t let their wait for you to come in Rapture be in vain. Because I tell you, they are waiting.
Be Prepared to be at the HAVEN OF REST.
