Circular Congregational Church Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina
This is not the first cemetery in which I have taken pictures but it is the oldest, in fact it claims to be the first cemetery in Charleston (ca. 1695 which is only 139 years after Martin Luther's death).
Though some of these graves have been here for over 300 years, this is not the final resting place for those who have died in Christ. We often mistakenly call graves the final resting place. To do so we then must deny the reality of the resurrection.
As many of you know, both my father and sister have died and joined the Church Triumphant. I know that one day their ashes will be raised from the dead.
Until then, there is a temporary rest for them from their labors: from pain and struggle, from sin and sorrow.
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'" Revelation 14:13 ESV
On this All Saints Day it appropriate for us to celebrate the unity of the Church Militant (that's you and me) and the Church Triumphant (those who have died in the Lord) in the mystery that is the Communion of Saints.
I thank God for my father who left a legacy of faith. I thank God for my sister who left a legacy of grace in a life lived with muscular dystrophy.
Think about those who have left a legacy for you and thank God for their testimony to Christ that lives on in your life.
"For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!"
Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/
Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
No comments:
Post a Comment