And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple complex praising God.     Luke 24:51-53 HCSB

“Parting is such sweet sorrow” is a line from Romeo and Juliet. There was sorrow because they had to part briefly, but sweetness in knowing they would be together again soon. In our Scripture passage today, Jesus has been resurrected and revealed Himself to His disciples. He has spent time with them and walked with them and instructed them on what they are to do once he leaves them. But notice how in verse 52 it says that after worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

Jesus’ disciples didn’t truly understand what was going on when he died. They were fearful and were hiding out. They had great sorrow in their hearts after losing Jesus. But then Jesus returned to them and they understood. One of the last instructions He gives them before ascending into heaven is, “stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” He is telling them to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit empowers them.

We know that afterward was the great Pentecost and Jesus’ disciples did just as He had commanded them in what is know as the great commission. They went out and witnessed to others and made disciples of others. They performed miracles in Jesus’ name.

I attended the funeral of a dear friend’s mother just last week. Just yesterday, I received a call from another stating that his mother was in the final stages of cancer and would probably be going to meet the Lord soon.

When Romeo was leaving Juliet, he planned on returning the next morning to discuss marriage with her. There was sadness at his parting, but they knew they would be together again soon and the sadness would be replaced by sweetness. When we lose a loved one that has trusted in Jesus Christ as their savior, we have the comfort of knowing that our separation from them is temporary. We have the comfort of knowing that they are going to a much better place.

For many years, my family and I prayed for my Dad’s salvation. At the age of 80, he accepted Christ as his Savior and we saw a change in him. There was a change in the way he talked and in the way he viewed things. It was evident that he had entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Losing him was the hardest thing I have ever been through, but knowing where he was headed made it much easier. At holidays and birthdays I know that He is spending them in eternal glory. I know that someday when the Lord calls me home, I will see him again.

My mother has been a wonderful example of Christian living my whole life. When the Lord calls her home I will know that she is in a much better place with no suffering and I know that I will see her again.

When we lose a loved one that is saved, the parting can be deemed sweet sorrow. We will mourn and grieve and be saddened at our loss, but we are comforted with knowing that they await us in heaven. If we are saved, we will see them again.

It’s much different when we lose someone that we fear is not saved.

So, I ask you this today. If you were to be suddenly called home, would your family be able to see your parting from them as sweetness or sorrow? Would they be comforted in knowing that you are in the loving presence of your Lord and Savior? Or would they wonder and be unsure? Or would they feel certain that you were suffering in hell?

This may seem like a cruel question, but it’s one that we need to ask before it’s too late. This is not a bridge that we can say we will just cross when we get there. We must be able to answer this question now, because tomorrow may be too late.

I want you to think about your relationship with Jesus Christ. First, do you have one? If you do, is it a close relationship or merely an acquaintance? Most importantly, do you know beyond a doubt that if you were to be called home to the Lord right this minute that you would spend eternity in glory? The only other choice is eternity in a fiery hell.

If you won’t do it for yourself consider your loved ones. Don’t they deserve to feel secure in your eternal destiny when you part ways? What you decide and how you live today determines whether they will feel sweetness or sorrow later. Choose wisely.

Have a great day!