What do you think of when you think of “gathering?” Most often it brings to mind something very special, albeit the gathering of family together, or the gathering of a church body, or even the picture of Jesus gathering His little lambs in His arms.
Isaiah 40:11 (ESV) — 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Even when God disciplines His children, there is the picture of a loving Father who gathers those whom He disciplines in the arms of compassion and love.
Isaiah 54:7–8 (ESV) — 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.
One of the best thoughts about gathering are the pictures of the patriarch dying.
Genesis 25:8 (ESV) — 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
Genesis 35:29 (ESV) — 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Genesis 49:33 (ESV) — 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
Isn’t that a precious picture? When we face death we are actually gathered unto God in the same way our loved ones who have died “in the Lord” have gone before. Death is nothing more than a gathering as God gathers His children from the four corners of the globe unto Himself upon their death.
Psalm 116:15 (ESV) — 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
This gathering concept tells us that the change we go through at death is for the better. Nobody gathers things that are of little value. Death is but a gathering as God gathers His people unto Himself. Think about the value placed upon each one of His children, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:32 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Of course the gathering at death is really the second gathering as each of His children have been gathered unto their Redeemer by way of the Gospel as He calls us to Himself.
John 10:27–30 (ESV) — 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
It gets even better as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ gather together to worship and serve Him, He has promised to be in their midst. It is important to make sure you do not miss the gathering together of God’s people and miss out on the special presence of the Savior as He gathers with His gathered people.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) — 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Matthew 18:20 (ESV) — 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Sadly, in the way of condemnation, the Lord Jesus Christ expressed the hardness of the hearts of the Jewish people in their rejection of Him as He spoke of how He would have gathered them but they were not willing.
Matthew 23:37–38 (ESV) — 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate.
Now you see the importance of considering the gathering. As you consider the Lord Jesus Christ reaching out to you to gather you in His arms in tenderness when you feel you cannot go on, so you have the beautiful picture of gathering as you face death, realizing it’s just a gathering from this life to eternity.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
