I Can Only Imagine 只能想像

[Dexu Xia]

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7

2 Corinthians 5:1–10

I settled into the church pew behind a woman as the worship team began playing “I Can Only Imagine.” Raising my hands, I praised God as the woman’s sweet soprano voice harmonized with mine. After telling me about her health struggles, we decided to pray together during her upcoming cancer treatments.

A few months later, Louise told me she feared dying. Leaning onto her hospital bed, I rested my head next to hers, whispered a prayer, and quietly sang our song. I can only imagine what it was like for Louise when she worshiped Jesus face-to-face just a few days later.

The apostle Paul offered comforting assurance for his readers who were facing death (2 Corinthians 5:1). The suffering experienced on this side of eternity may cause groaning, but our hope remains anchored to our heavenly dwelling—our eternal existence with Jesus (vv. 2–4). Though God designed us to yearn for everlasting life with Him (vv. 5–6), His promises are meant to impact the way we live for Him now (vv. 7–10).

As we live to please Jesus while waiting for Him to return or call us home, we can rejoice in the peace of His constant presence. What will we experience the moment we leave our earthly bodies and join Jesus in eternity? We can only imagine!

By:  Xochitl Dixon

When have you been worried about or discouraged by facing death or losing a loved one? How does God’s promise of everlasting life encourage you?

Loving God, thank You for promising to be with me on earth and for all eternity.

尘土仍归于地，灵仍归于赐灵的上帝。—传道书12章7节

在主日聚会中，我坐在露意丝身后的长木椅上。当敬拜团开始演奏诗歌《我只能想像》（I Can Only Imagine）时，我举起双手赞美上帝，与她那甜美的高音互相应和。聚会后，她告诉了我她所面对的健康问题，于是我们决定在她即将进行的癌症疗程期间要一同祷告。

几个月后在医院里，露意丝告诉我，她害怕死亡。我斜靠着她的病床，与她头挨着头地靠在一起，轻声祷告，并低声哼唱我们的那首歌《我只能想像》。几天后，露意丝就回天家了，面对面地敬拜耶稣，她有什么感觉呢？我只能想像。

使徒保罗给当时正面临死亡的读者，提供了抚慰人心的保证（哥林多后书5章1节）。我们在世上经历的苦难，或许会使我们痛苦埋怨，但我们的盼望紧系在天上的居所，那永远与耶稣同在的地方（2-4节）。虽然上帝创造我们，是要我们渴望与祂同在的永生（5-6节），但祂的应许也要影响我们现在要如何为祂而活（7-10节）。

在等候耶稣再临或是祂召我们回天家之际，若我们活出讨耶稣喜悦的生活，祂同在的平安将使我们欢欣喜乐。当我们脱离血肉之躯，进入耶稣基督永恒国度的那一刻，我们会经历些什么呢？我们只能想像！

作者：  邓书琪

你何时曾因面临死亡或失去至亲，
而担忧或绝望？上帝应许赐我们永生，
如何使你得激励？

慈爱的上帝，感谢祢已应许，
不论在这世上或在永恒，祢会一直与我同在