By David Phillips
I recall that Brother Joe McCollough would often call attention to a particular word or phrase in conversation, or sometimes from scripture, and then he would usually say, “I am a student of words…” Brother Joe wasn’t highly educated, but he appreciated the scriptures and obviously spent much time with them. We frequently discussed the meaning and origin of particular words from the Bible, and inevitably the conversation would turn to the need to be more grateful for this precious blessing from our Heavenly Father. I sure miss Brother Joe, and 25 or thirty others that I could readily name, who were a crucial part of our congregation, but have now gone on to their heavenly reward. I miss their smiles and encouraging words; I miss their constructive hands and their dedicated hearts. I miss their zeal and their faithfulness and the effect that they had on me, week after week. Surely one of the true joys of Heaven will be the grand reunion we will enjoy there.
Recently, someone asked me to comment on the question of whether or not we will recognize one another in Heaven. After a good bit of thought and study, I’ve come to an affirmative conclusion. Not only is it logical, but I believe it is also scriptural.
In Genesis 25:8, of Abraham at his death, the Bible says he was gathered to his people. In fact, this distinctive phrase is used of 6 key persons in the Old Testament. Not only is Abraham so described, but also Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Aaron and Moses. In his commentary on Genesis 25:8, Keil says “This phrase is constantly distinguished from departing this life and being buried. It denotes the reunion in Sheol with friends who have gone before, and therefore presupposes faith in the personal continuance of a man after death” (C.F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol.1, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. p.263). Two different OT characters expressed their belief that they would join their sons beyond the grave. Jacob, as he mourned Joseph (whom he presumed dead) in Genesis 37:25 and David in 2 Samuel 12:23 as he grieved over his dead infant son. In the Lord’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) the rich man certainly saw and recognized Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. In Matthew 17, we have a rare glimpse of two Old Testament notables, come back to earth to converse with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Apparently Peter, James and John recognized Moses and Elijah, who had not lost their identity when they took their place in that great cloud of witnesses that is mentioned in Hebrews 12:1.
Finally, consider the words of these old favorites from among the songs we have sung for years: An Empty Mansion in the chorus states, “Many friends and dear loved ones will welcome me there, near the door of that mansion some day.” Brother Teddlie’s Heaven Holds All to Me proclaims, “Loved ones are waiting and watching my coming…” Surely this is part of why “every heart will be light and each face will be bright, when all of God’s singers get home.”