“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6).

The morning paper contained a tiny article about the Fort Morgan ferry that runs across Mobile Bay to Dauphin Island. The cost for one car and two passengers, this fellow said, is $20.50. That’s up considerably since the last time my wife and I rode it with our grandson. Grant was about six, as I recall.

We had arrived at the ferry landing and took our place in line with other cars. I bought the ticket and we were milling around waiting for the ferry to arrive from the other shore. Grant was apprehensive.

“Grandpa, are we going to cross that river?” I assured him we were.

“But there’s no bridge. Are we going to drive out in the water?”

I explained about the ferry boat.

“Grandpa, I’m afraid.”

I said, “Grant, you are with grandpa and grandma. Do you know how much we love you? We are going to take care of you. You have nothing to worry about.”

A half hour later, in the middle of Mobile Bay and standing on the deck of the ferry, my beloved grandson looked up, beaming. “Grandpa, this is fun.”

Almost anyone is apprehensive about taking a trip he’s never experienced, to a place where he’s never been, and with no visible means of transport.

But the Heavenly Father loves us. And He has promised that when the scheduled time for our departure arrives, His limo service will be waiting.

It will be fun.

At a funeral, Pastor Shawn Parker was telling the family and friends about the transportation God provided to take Elijah to heaven.

“A chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire…and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).

Shawn said, “That was God’s limousine service, sent to bring His faithful servant home.”

It brings to mind Corrie ten Boom’s statement to her sister Betsy. In Hitler’s concentration camp, Betsy was worrying about dying, saying she wasn’t sure she had courage sufficient for this. Corrie said, “Sister, do you recall when we were small and would make the trip with father into the city on the train? You and I would play around the station. And when did father give us our tickets?”

She answered, “Not until the train arrived, lest we lose them.”

Corrie responded, “The Heavenly Father has not given us the courage to face death yet because the time is not yet. But when the time comes, He will give us everything we need.”

As He did. And as He does.

An elderly friend said, “I heard this preacher tell once how when he was very young, the worst part of his ministry was visiting elderly people and talking with them about dying. He hated it worst than anything. He didn’t know what to tell them, he was uncomfortable with the subject, and they could sense it.”

“So, one day, an elderly lady said to him, ‘Pastor, I want you to sit yourself down here. I need to tell you something.’ He did.

“She said, ”Pastor, I can tell you are ill at ease talking with me about dying, and I’d like to ease your mind about that.’

“‘Look at it like this. My Lord owns both sides of this river. And I’m just leaving this side and going over to the other side. That’s all there is to it. And it’s all good.’”

“The pastor said that did it. Never again did he feel apprehensive about talking with people about dying.”

A day after hearing that story, I told it at the funeral of a friend.

I said, “Charlene has just crossed over to the other side. And the Heavenly Father owns both sides of the river.”

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Joe McKeever has been preaching the Gospel since 1961. He pastored for 42 years in various Southern Baptist Churches. He has also served as director of missions for the SBC churches of metro New Orleans. Joe has a BA from Birmingham-Southern College, and a masters & doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. For over 20 years, Joe has drawn a daily cartoon for the Baptist Press (www.bpnews.net/comics).  He writes columns for a variety of publications. He and his wife, Bertha, have published numerous books including, “Help! I’m a Deacon” (2015) and “Sixty and Better: Making the Most of Our Golden Years” (2017). As a blended family, Joe and Bertha share fourteen grandchildren. They live in Ridgeland, MS and enjoy telling friends they are “living happily ever after.” Joe’s life verse is Job 4:4, “Your words have stood men on their feet.” To discover more about Joe, visit his website. 

Featured Image by Jörg Vieli from Pixabay