That Tiny Grasp for Eternity

Her tiny fingers wrapped around my finger in a tight grasp as I touched her hand after reaching into the opening. The incubator was against the wall framed by a brace of lamps with the shades turned to soften the lighting. In the stillness I whispered, "Kimberly. . .Kimberly Ann. We love you." She was so minute at a pound and twelve ounces, but oh so beautiful. Five days after her birth, Kimberly passed into God's watchful care until resurrection morning.

The pain returns upon reflection, remembering that Carolyn was never able to hold her and only saw her during the brief moments following birth. Complications from premature birth kept her at one hospital while Kimberly was transferred to another providing specialized care for infants. Despite our loss, it is reassuring to know that a heavenly family reunion waits for those remaining faithful to God.

When the Sadducees tried to entrap Christ with questions about marriage and the resurrection He responded, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scripture nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven." Matthew 22:29-30. These words can be confusing to some, especially when consideration of other Scripture is absent. Matthew 19:4-6 tells us that God created male and female and that when man leaves home to take a wife, the two become one flesh. God states that what He has joined together no man can separate.

Things will be different, but for one to speculate and say that we will be as the angels is going far beyond what Christ was saying. John the apostle tells us, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He [Christ] is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." 1John 3:2. I believe that the marriages among the faithful here on earth will continue throughout eternity if both husband and wife remain faithful to God.

I look forward to the promises of God given through His prophet Isaiah. We have been given a glimpse into our future in a new earth. There will no longer be children living only days and old people will no longer die off. Children will be all around us as they play among animals considered wild beasts in our present world. There will be children conceived and born in this new earth. (see Isaiah 11:6-8 and 65:20-25)

Does this sound like God has done away with the institution of marriage as created in the Garden of Eden? I look forward and long for the day when I am able to see the mother of all my precious children holding in her arms the child whose grasp slipped from my finger.

But hope bears our spirits up. We are not parted forever, but shall meet the loved ones who sleep in Jesus. They shall come again from the land of the enemy. The Life-giver is coming. . . . As the little infants come forth immortal from their dust beds, they immediately wing their way to their mother's arms. They meet again nevermore to part. (E.G. White, 2 SM, pg. 260)

[All Bible Texts from NKJV]

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