Saying goodbye is a hard part of life. But it is a part of life. Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” So there is a time to say goodbye to the dearest and best to us. How can we prepare for that time?
First, we must realize it’s a learning experience. Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Paul is talking about lessons of life that teach us to be content, and sometimes we have to be content to say goodbye.
The stages of life force us to say goodbye. Our parents decide to move to another state, and we say goodbye to friends and relatives. We leave home for a home of our own and we say goodbye to our parents. As parents we take the little one off to kindergarten, camp, down the aisle, to a bus stop or an airport and we say goodbye. Sometimes we say our goodbyes at the funeral home. The sadness, tears and loneliness are softened by being prepared for those times.
There are at least four things we can do to be ready to say goodbye. Number one is to make sure they have heard the Gospel, the salvation message. Acts 20:25-27, “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
Number two is to pass on our value system taken from the Word of God. Being a Godly role model will leave a lasting impression on those we say goodbye to. Number three is to trust in God’s sovereign plan for those we let go of. Remember Moses’ mother she put him in a basket and sailed him down the river. She was trusting God to take care of him when she had to let him go. Sometimes we must let them go for the good of all. We can say goodbye when we know God will watch over them.
Number four is to appreciate them while we can before it’s too late. Do what you should when you can so that there will be no regrets. Greet a friend in peace and leave a friend in peace because you never know when it will be for the last time.
Can goodbyes be really good when you leave a loved one at the cemetery? They are good if we realize we shall see them again. Death is vanquished in the life of a believer. I Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” We have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We must see things from God’s perspective. Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
Who knows what pain, sorrow or problems God has spared them from by taking them to glory before us? We are all just passing through, and some just pass on before us. A good goodbye is I will see you later. We say goodbye with a good last impression. Goodbye.
Sr. Pastor Dr. John W. Lewis
Anchor Baptist Church
456 Jamison Rd SW
Washington Court House, OH 43160
740-333-7777
