“laid up” - to lie, to place gently.
The King appeared in all His glory (scared brow, hands,feet and side). Majestically He arrived at the center of our garden of fragility. His hands carefully lowered a Heavenly wreath upon the brow of our brokenness. In the placement of this wreathed crown, His eyes wept tears of fullest understanding. As a cool invigorating rain pouring over the feelings of our infirmities, He would begin the process of washing away the pain of our stained and pained existence.
“laid up” - of an infant
(Years ago, but like yesterday)While we were still in the numbness of the moment, I was asked to do a task that my mind only goes to if the Lord takes me there. Our first little gift from Heaven, Justin, was born to be delivered back to Heaven after Six short days. As we gathered together in the funeral home to get our third and last glimpse of him before they would seal him into his tiny little hope chest, the funeral director asked me if I would like to hold Justin for a moment, while he prepared his tiny little burial vessel for sealing. Before my lips could respond, the little guy's lifeless body was placed in my arms. I have never held the stillness, the emptiness, the brokenness of death's intimate but indiscriminate separation until that moment. My heart and my mind swirled in a chaotic rush of conflicting winds and voices, but one voice, so small yet so still, held my heart - "Trust me, I love you!". Then it happened, I was asked to gently place Justin in his final tiny treasure box. O the tears we shared!
“laid up”- of one buried.
We stood by the graveside...so final, yet so promising. The gentle loving words spoken to us by the Pastor that was ministering in that moment, was not the typical "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" type of rhetoric, but was a powerful spirit filled conjecture of the nearness of our God in these situations, and the assurance that we were specially chosen, not outcasts."Little babies are not born in Heaven, and every once in awhile God chooses a special couple to send their baby on ahead, so that Heaven can enjoy the sights, sounds and joys of a little one there". His words helped to bring us closer to Jesus.
“laid up”- of things that quietly cover some spot.
The little bronze grave placard was gently and reverently set in place to cover the moment, the loss, the shame, the feeling of abandonment. Ever to be there for visits and memory... as a reminder of God's loving Presence in our times of greatest need.
“laid up”- of a city situated on a hill.
Though some would walk away and cast a shroud of sorrow and bitterness over that moment. We would carry the sorrow, the bitterness and the shroud, but the moment would be liberated by "the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". This moment with Him would be a monument standing tall in our "city on a hill" reminding us that God loves us though our hearts may be ransacked by the joy thieves of this world. Their sad song will only be sung for a while, but so very soon a New Song is coming.
Jesus is set in place for every child of the King. He strengthens our earthly vessel. He endears us to His Throne of Grace. He allows us to look beyond the confusion sown on this side of Heaven. He is the Hope laid up together for us. He is the foundation that cannot be shaken. He is our eternal love appointment. He is the first and final Word of the Law of Love. He is our destiny. We are His, and He is ours. And this is where the power of the evil one becomes powerless and impotent. Here is where the bonds of wickedness will be broken. Jesus is our Victory; love his appearing!
As God watches over our feeble efforts to longingly look for His epiphanies (appearances)in our lives, He gives us snapshots of the tender care that are actually shadows of the placement of this crown of righteousness. Some day, and soon, He will break into the strongholds of this world and steal us away to His side forever... And this will be everlasting Joy and our new song ... forever.
HLFA,
Jeff