This morning while reading the news, I came across the saddening news that your friend and mine, Mr. Rogers, has passed away. He was 74 years old and he died of stomach cancer.

Yesterday and today in emails sent by Bill Bright, Bill talks about “losing” his mother and father, but not really losing them, but allowing them to enter into glory, receive their resurrection bodies, and be with the Lord. In fact, Bill is probably meditating a lot on that fact right now because it’s not expected for him to live on earth that much longer. I don’t think it really bothers him (except for the fact that he won’t have the opportunity to share Christ with others), because I’m sure he can’t wait to see Jesus, the One he has been pursuing for his entire life.

Mr. Rogers was also an ordained Presbyterian minister. I think he had a pretty good idea of where he was heading and is probably now rejoicing.

Death—such an interesting concept. We can’t avoid it, but to Christians, it’s a welcome event, because it signals the transition from our earthly bodies to our resurrection bodies, from our incompleteness on earth to our completeness in heaven with our Father. That’s pretty cool. Doesn’t mean that death isn’t scary—I actively try to do all that I can so that I don’t meet it prematurely–but I know that what’s on the other side is secure. Praise the Lord.

But I’m still going to miss Mr. Rogers.