Just a few days ago, my wife Pam and I talked over coffee about our childhoods, how they were alike and how they were different. We spoke of the early days of our marriage, of raising children and how our lives are different now. Because I’m getting older, I’m reaching a time in my life when I seem to be attending more funerals. As a result, I think a little more about the different seasons of life. Maybe you have noticed that life has seasons, too. Today, let’s consider a passage taken from one of the psalms in which David speaks of the final season of his life as King, here on earth:

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (Psalm 17:15)

Fanny Crosby was a 19th century mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer who wrote more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with more than 100 million copies printed. By the end of her life, she was a household name in the US. She had also been blind since she was six weeks old. A pastor once told her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when he showered so many other gifts upon you.” She responded, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” Today’s passage reminds us of the hope we have in Christ. The psalmist speaks of an awakening, but from what? He’s speaking of death. Someday you and I will fall asleep in death – but death will not be the end for us. Let’s read it again: “I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”  One day, we will fall asleep in death, but we shall awake and when we awake we will be satisfied with the likeness of the Lord. Nothing here on earth can fully satisfy our broken human hearts…but one day, God will. Here we encounter God in limited ways; we speak to Him in prayer; we serve Him and worship Him; we have ideas about Who He is and what He does.

One day though, you and I will wake up in His glorious Presence and see Him face to face. We will forever be satisfied…and that’s very Good News!