What Is It All About?

Beloved,

It is Wednesday, another wonderful Wednesday. Right now, where I am, it is raining. In every life, a little rain tends to fall from time to time.

First, I want to thank you for your continued support in this time of bereavement regarding the loss of my father. It was unexpected and surprising, likely to everyone, except to God, our Heavenly Father.

I know that I tell you often at HOPE Wednesday to be real before we get religious and I tell you that for a specific reason. Your religion can be a barrier to God getting to your real. But, when you are open, honest, authentic and real with God, then your religion can inform you, deliver you, and free you through the truth found in the Gospel. Without you bringing your real to God, your religion will be of little use to you being your best you.

I am going to be open and I am going to be honest and I am going to be authentic and I am going to be real with you as I have tried to be with God.

It really hurts to know that I will not see my father again on this side of glory. I talked to him on Friday morning and less than 24 hours later, on Saturday morning, God called him home.

The rain that I now see and hear can help to mask the tears that I have cried for my father because I love him (do note that love is in the present tense because I believe he has transitioned but he is by no means gone) and I miss him (do note that this is also in the present tense BUT on the other side of glory it will shift to the past tense because I will miss him no more as we will be together again).

In times like these, life can bring you to a crossroad of decision and you may find yourself asking, "What is it all about?"

What is life all about? What is birth all about? What is death all about? What is sickness all about? What is pain all about? What is it all about?

I have had to comfort others during times like these and I have had to challenge myself to not look inward at my thoughts and emotions and dare, as I have encouraged you to do, to look deeper to my soul, my immortal soul, my God-loved soul, my Christ-saved soul, and ask, "What is it all about?"

What is it all about?

The Apostle Paul had an answer in Ephesians 1:13-14, "In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth (that sets you free), the gospel (Good News) of your salvation, and had believed in him (Jesus the Christ), were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (the Comforter); this is the pledge (God does not lie) of our inheritance (and He has more for you) toward redemption (fully paid and prepared) as God's own people (you are like no other), to the praise (which He is due) of his glory (which He deserves)."

Beloved, what is it all about?

Beloved, if you will dare to be free in the truth of the Good News about our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, you will be comforted by God Himself in the presence of the Holy Spirit who was promised and given to assure you that God has saved you, sanctified you, and is daily filling you with all that you need and more than you deserve without you having to pay a price or penalty to offer you something that the world never can or will and all He expects in return is that you will love Him that much more because it is only reasonable for you to do so.

Beloved, what is it all about? That is what it is all about.

My father has received his reward for his faith in God. While the swiftness of his departure saddens me, I am thankful for having him in my life and I am grateful to God for giving me another role model of faith.

What is it all about?

Well, while the tears may continue to fall, I am still on this side of glory in the land of the living and, therefore, God must still have more for me to do. I guess it is only reasonable for me to continue to try to do that which pleases God the most until God calls me home to the Hall of Faith where I will meet so many of my dearly departed loved ones again.

I will not live as if they are dead. I will live as if they are gone on ahead of me and, where they are, I expect to be with them again too, forever in eternity.

I hope and pray that as you live your life, you will seek to do likewise. Live the best life for God that you can while you can...and love and encourage as many as you can to do the same.

That is what it is all about.

You did not see it; but, I just shed another tear. May it water another seed of blessing in my life and the lives of others because being blessed to be a blessing is also what it is all about.

You did not see it; but, I just smiled because one of you reading this email just got inspired to live a little better, to do a little better, to love a little better.

That is also what it is all about.

And, remember, God loves you and I love you too!

Be blessed,

Rev. Cain