Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” –Psalm 116:15
One trend in new home construction is the return of the large, protected front porch, like this on an eighty-year-old home in my community. For decades, builders installed small concrete slabs for porches, and people cocooned themselves behind their front doors. But big porches are once again bringing people outside to enjoy evening breezes and hear the birds, wind, and rain. They help connect neighbors and provide a play place for children. During storms, they offer protection as you dig for a key or wait for the homeowner to open the door.
Think about the comfort of such a porch as you consider your final moments on earth. Behind the door of death is Heaven. Some people fear coming here, as though a spiritual version of a vicious guard dog lays in wait to attack. There may be some legitimacy to that fear. When we are desperately ill, our faith may flag, leaving us vulnerable to the taunts of Satan. He may growl, “You don’t belong here,” or “Things aren’t what you think.” Ignore him. If you’re a child of God, Satan cannot harm you. He’s chained to the Cross, where he was defeated. He’ll snarl and fuss because he’s frustrated that he’s not welcome here. Don’t let him distract you from this holy moment.
Instead, focus on how God would welcome His precious child to His home. Think of the possibility that celestial helpers will help us up the porch stairs and to Heaven’s welcome mat. Members of the isolated Ecuadorian tribe who killed five American missionaries in 1956 remembered the shock of seeing “shining ones” in the jungle tree tops that fateful day. They told of that experience years later, after many in the tribe had become Christians. (1)
A four-year-old drowning survivor told his mother that while he wasn’t breathing underwater, an angel picked him up from the pool. Together they flew through walls and clouds to Heaven to see Jesus and the mother’s recently-deceased brother. He talked about a door with jewels around it. Because he was too young to know what the Bible teaches about Heaven, she believes it was a genuine experience. (2)
Vivian will never forget how angels comforted her dying grandmother, Rachel. During Vivian’s turn at her grandmother’s beside, the old woman had asked, “Read to me from the Bible.” Vivian began reading a random passage, realizing it seemed inappropriate for someone about to die. She stopped when it appeared her grandmother was asleep. But Rachel was aware, and insisted, “Keep on reading.” Vivian resumed reading, then stopped when it again appeared her grandmother was sleeping. “This time her eyes opened,” Vivian recalled. “She asked me if I saw ‘them’ too. I asked her who she meant, and she said, ‘The angels standing over there. See across the river? They’re saying I can’t come now, but tomorrow is the time.’”
Vivian was comforted by her grandmother’s vision, but the “tomorrow” part puzzled her. Later she went home to her family duties, fixing dinner and putting her children to bed. About midnight someone called to tell her that her grandmother had been taken to the hospital. When Rachel died at two the next morning, Vivian realized this was the “tomorrow” that angels told her grandmother.
Jesus suggested that angels escort us to Heaven when He taught about a rich, self-indulgent, unbelieving man and a poor, sick beggar. This beggar, who spent his days at the rich man’s gate, was covered with sores that the local mongrel dogs licked. He was so destitute that he ate any table scraps the rich man dropped his way. Finally, both died. The rich man was buried, but angels carried the beggar to heaven (Luke 16:22). The Bible also says myriads of angels have ministry on earth on our behalf: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”(Heb. 1:14).
So how much will we know as we wait on the porch for Heaven’s door? According to many accounts of the dying, we’ll have a heightened sensitivity to the spiritual world. Nancy recalled how her stepfather Wallace lifted both his hands toward the ceiling and looked up, then took his last breath. Someday we’ll fully understand the hope of Psalm 116:15—that a believer’s death is precious to God. He cares. And we won’t be alone on that porch of transition, when we exhale our last breath on earth and step into the presence of God.
Prayer: Father, thank you that I won’t be alone as I near the door to Heaven. Amen.
(1) Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, devotional for Sept. 14, 2007.(2) Amy Buettner, “Mommy, I Saw Jesus,” Christian Reader (November/December 2002), p. 73.
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