Gaylon and I just returned from a trip to North Carolina to celebrate the life of a friend who has gone to his heavenly reward. I know he is rejoicing. For the decades we knew our friend Wayne, he always had a praise for his Lord and Savior, and he was busy sharing the love of God.

As we drove home yesterday, we were tired. The trip included the celebration of life, a little side trip to visit my sister who I rarely get to see, and a trip through Morganton to see our grandson Tucker and his family.

In four days, we drove almost fifteen hundred miles. As we neared home, I was thinking how glad I would be to step out of my car and into my home to rest. I began to sing the old hymn.

When I’ve gone the last mile of the way,
I will rest at the close of the day,
And I know there are joys that await me
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.

We are all going to walk the last mile of the way some day. Our time on earth will be over, and our time in eternity will begin.

While in North Carolina, we saw many friends – friends that had no white hair when we met them, and now they have many or all white hairs on their heads. As I chatted with them, it was such a joy to know that they were still serving God faithfully. Life had not been without hardships, but they were still serving God. In a world that is often dark and filled with “acceptable” sin, they were still faithfully serving God. Some were walking a little slower, but they were still serving God. I chatted with one couple who had lost a child and two grandchildren, and they were still serving God. Some had their spouses forsake them and walk away, but they were still serving God.

Finally, we turned onto the last road that would take us home. As we got on the final road, we went over the last hill, and I knew I was almost home, and I began to sing the song a little louder. I knew home awaited me. We literally got out of the car and said, “Thank You, Lord, for keeping us as we traveled. It is great to be home.”

Gaylon and I are at the age now, where we find ourselves closer to the last mile of the way in life’s journey. God has been good to us, and He has kept us. Life has brought us many joys, and life has brought us many trials. I am so aware that home is just over the hill, and then I shall stand face-to-face with my Lord, and I can say to Him, “Thank You for keeping us as we traveled. It is great to be home.”

Heaven is real. My Savior is real. Eternity is real.

^“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17