Encouraging a Brother Whose Sister Departed This Life

I just received a text from a brother whose sister (Ethel) passed away. To encourage him, I focused on Habakkuk 2:20, which had been shared by another brother before news came about the sister’s passing. I texted the following: “The passage is very uplifting: ‘But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.’ In the context, that means our sovereign and holy God is incomparable to dead idols. They were made of wood and stones and thus could not see, hear, breath, nor talk. They had no heavenly dwelling for themselves nor for those who worshipped them. On the other hand, our God is real and truthful and dwells in His holy temple (heaven) where Ethel was received. That’s why Jesus said, ‘In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2). Wow! Ethel has to be rejoicing! For us still living on earth, we have to sing, ‘When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be; when we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.’ Praise the Lord for that living hope and blessed assurance. Be encouraged my brother (Kevin). Blessings!” I hope you’re also encouraged just thinking about being in God’s holy temple someday worshipping Him with all the saints. Blessings!