Facing East

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

My son, Stephen and his wife Caroline went into premature labor yesterday and had their son, Conner Wayne Combs 14 weeks early. Caroline had fought for his life since her water had broke in week 18. He was born at 10:51 AM on May 3, 2012. He weighed 1 lb. and 3 oz. He lived until 1:30 AM the next morning.

We got to see him. He was a little fighter. His heart was strong, but his lungs were weak. Unable to grow to maturity, his lungs wouldn’t respond to the heroic efforts of the Duke doctors. His mother and father got to hold him before the Lord took him.

Today, as his grandfather, I went to Evergreen Memorial Gardens and bought a grave plot for Conner. I went ahead and bought two more for me and my wife next to his. I carefully selected them so that they faced East. That’s the direction Jesus will return according to biblical prophecy.

I’d like to be facing East when He returns. I don’t want to miss anything. Plus, I figured Conner would appreciate the company.

This world is temporary. Facing East, looking for Christ’s return. I’m doing that already.