“Inside the Eastern Gate.”

John and Rose Aker

I am posting on this “You and God” blog today a devotional by a dear friend of mine, John Aker, whose writings have blessed and encouraged me for many years. John has had a storied life, including time in a monastery (before his conversion) as a young adult preparing for the priesthood; time serving our country in the United States Army; time serving several churches in successful pastorates and time serving as a CEO of health-care ministry. Most of our relationship has been through the printed page, but I admire his love for Christ and his ability to express his heart through the print medium. I think you will, too. I especially was moved by his tribute to his wife, Rose, in this blog, and by the hymns which he shared with us. If you want to receive John’s weekly “Thoughts for the Week,” contact him at: jba@akerjba.com

Ecclesiastes–Although I have preached certain of its passages, so wise and wonderfully favored, I have never preached through Ecclesiastes in its entirety. Of late, I have been enjoying the privilege of being able to teach (but I do slip into a preaching quite often, I am sure) this challenging, and sometimes controversial book, verse by verse. I am learning and loving it as I go. For reasons prompted by our singing during Morning Worship last Lord’s Day, I’d like to share thoughts that linger with me…

Although people typically associate Ecclesiastes with Solomon’s words, Vanity of vanity; all is vanity, this phrase is so often taken out of context . Without understanding that Solomon is writing from man’s perspective and not as God sees and intended it, life can be so meaningless, even mysterious–so much chasing after wind. Yes, he does speak of the monotony of life, the vanity of wisdom, the brevity of pleasure, the futility of wealth, and the triviality of power–but only for those who fail to recognize the necessity of God!

Solomon challenges his readers to take a good hard look at life. This wisest of all men says, Look above (3:1-8) and recognize Sovereignty…Look within (3:9-14) and reflect on eternity…Look ahead (3:15-22) and reckon with inevitability. Then, as if trying to prove his point, he finally challenges us to look around ourselves (4:1-16) and realize the insatiability, the insufficiency/inability of this world’s stuffs to satisfy. And so, we can rightly conclude, without understanding the necessity of God’s perspective and His purpose, and without His Presence in our lives, it truly is vanity and striving after wind (4:16). Because the inevitability of it all is the unavoidable reality of death and the inescapable certainty of judgment

Yet, in the midst of it, there is true comfort and hope. Tears, trials, and tribulations well describe the commonality of life as it is in the here and now. It can be so demanding, difficult, even dangerous when navigated alone. But Solomon says it need not be that way:

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
for if one of them falls, the other will lift up his companion.
But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him!
Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm,
but how can one be warm alone?
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.
A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart…

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

During my monastic years, alone in my monastery cell, I often wondered what it would be like to be warm with another on those cold and lonely nights. After leaving the monastery, and while serving with United States Army Intelligence, I met and married a young woman working in Counterintelligence Analysis Branch. In just a few short weeks, Lord willing, we will celebrate, by God’s grace, our sixtieth wedding anniversary–and I have never forgotten the privilege of being warm together with my dear bride (and her cold feet). There are so many nights, overwhelmed with love and joy, I reach out and place my hand softly on her head as I thank God for gifting me with one so precious to me, who am truly undeserving and unworthy of my Rosebud–not sweet syrupy sentiment, just the truth! God knows…

We have become the two–here to help each other, here to be warm in our love–and on 30 March 1968, after three years of marriage, we repented and embraced Christ as Lord. He, and He Alone, is The Third Strand Who has kept our bond strong/steadfast.

In my eighties now, and married sixty years, the inevitable is ever before me–but we are all, each and every one of us, just a breath aways from eternity. There is nothing morbid in that thought. For those who love God and come to Him through Jesus Christ, in repentance and genuine faith, He has planned so much more! God has been so good to me–I could ask for nothing more.

He has saved me and entrusted me with so many treasures to enjoy–my godly parents who led us to The Lord…my brothers and sisters, Alan and Irene, Larry and Judy…our three lovely daughters, Laurie, Natalie, and Jana…sixteen beautiful grandchildren–eight of whom are married, another soon to be…twenty-two great-grandchildren…my furry friend, and constant companion, Rusty…and, most precious of all, my bride of sixty years–who has loved me, inspired me, and dared to stay with me in spite of me–my Rosebud! I have been, I am, richly blessed…

But, the inevitability of life is fast approaching (but holds no fear because my Great Shepherd, The Lord Jesus, has promised, short of His Second Coming, to walk me through the valley of big shadows and bring me Home) and ever before me. Now back to the past Lord’s Day and the singing mentioned in my opener above…

I truly enjoy praising God in song with our Church Family that so obviously loves to sing. I delight in the hymns, so lofty in their rich theology, and I enjoy the great gospel songs, so lively in their soteriology. For some reason, each selection took us beyond our now to time with our loving Father for all eternity. At the very heart of each message was heaven. As you read on you might find yourself remembering their almost forgotten words and melody:

Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed
He invites His chose people
Come and dine…

And…

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…

And…

O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies
O they tell me of a home far away
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me of an unclouded day…

More…

There is coming a day
When no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky
No more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forevermore
On that happy golden shore
What a glorious day that will be…

And why that glorious day…

Face to Face with Christ my Savior
Face to face what will it be
When with rapture I behold Him
Jesus Christ Who died for me

Face to face I shall behold Him
Far beyond the starry sky
Face to face in all His Glory
I shall see Him by and by..

And in each of these the tears in my eyes and the pause in my singing reminded me of how glorious that day will truly be. But, in the midst of the joy of such promise, such praise, there was a moment of pain, of sorrow that the truth of each these signaled the inevitable: that as I reach out to grasp the Hand of my Savior, I must also let go of my dear Rose’s hand…

But the choir selection, a song I sang often with my staff in Tucson, almost dissolved me in tears:

I will meet you (in the morning, I will meet you (in the morning)
Just inside the Eastern Gate over there.
I will meet you (in the morning, I will meet you (in the morning)
I will meet you in the morning over there.
If you hasten off to glory
Just linger near the Eastern Gate
For I’m coming in the morning;
And you’ll not have long to wait.

It will be a glorious day! To be with Jesus–and all the saints, our saved loved ones who have gone before. And The greatest joy will simply and truly be that of being with Jesus…and then knowing our saved loved ones will be there. I do not know definitively what relationships we might enjoy with family and friends–but I anticipate enjoying The Presence of our great God, the beauty and personality of Our Loving Father, The Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus, and The Holy Spirit Whom we have known through His whispers of love–and all this with my Rose…

It is not death that bothers me–it is the thought of leaving this one who has loved me so selflessly, so faithfully, and so unconditionally. It is of her I think , with an ache in my heart, tears in my eyes, and a catch in my throat, when I hear those words…

I will meet you (in the morning), I will meet you (in the morning)
Just inside the Eastern Gate over there.

But there is still so much more inside The Eastern Gate:

But as it is written:
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor has it entered into the heart of man
All that God has prepared for those who love Him…

I Corinthians 2:9

And it will truly be joy unthinkable, love unspeakable…

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people,
and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death;
there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.
And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new…

Revelation 21:3-5a

Until The Eastern Gate,

John