Beloved Friends in Christ,

Everybody loves a happy ending. And the story of Job certainly provides one. After a series of tragedies that would leave anyone's head spinning and heart pounding, and that would push some over the edge into dangerous depression, relief arrives. The man Job, who lost absolutely everything he had, receives it back again-no, better still-God gives him twice as much as he had before!

But it doesn't always work that way. While many of us are looking ahead with eager anticipation to an end to the recent market meltdown, we have no guarantee that an end will even come. Not every story has a happy ending. Tragedies do occur.

For that very reason, Jesus entered our world. He came because the world in which we live is one spoiled by sin and its tragic consequences. And while some tragedies have a happy ending, many others do not, nor will they in this corrupted world. Jesus came, therefore, to offer us salvation-not in this world, but from it.

Did not Jesus once say, "You are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world"? Yes, we may be in the world, but we are not of it.

Heaven is our home. It is there that we will experience the happy ending to our every tragedy. It is there that the Lord, our Shepherd, will provide for us so that we will not be in any want. Green pastures, safe waters, precious jewels, gold, fine wine, mouth watering food, peace, prosperity, health, happiness… twice as much-no, better still, a cup overflowing-that's what will be ours. In fact, it already is ours. Heaven is our home.

We are but pilgrims here, awaiting our eternal inheritance. Through faith in Christ, we are in the Father's will. And the Father's will ends with these words: "And they lived happily ever after!"

In His service,

Pastor Richard A. Frey