Answers in heaven

There are many questions I have for God…

…why did my Uncle Calvin, my maternal grandparents’ firstborn, die in infancy? He could’ve really helped out the family as an extra pair of hands during the Great Depression.

…why did Kimberly, one of my older sisters, die in infancy?

…why was my cousin get killed by a drunk driver (an illegal immigrant with no license or insurance, who left a party where no concerted effort was made to stop him from driving)?

…why do young children die tragically while some of the most hedonistic athletes and musicians live to a ripe old age?

The answer to these questions can be found in a song we sang at church years ago. The song, Farther Along, was written and composed by J.R. Baxter and W.B. Stevens.

First stanza:

Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long,
While there are others living about us,
Never molested, though in the wrong.

Second stanza:
When death has come and taken our loved ones,
It leaves our home so lonely and drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year.

Third stanza:
Faithful ’til death, said our loving Master
A few more days to labor and wait,
Toils of the road will then seem as nothing
As we sweet through the beautiful gate.

Fourth stanza:
When we see Jesus, coming in glory,
When He comes from His home in the sky,
Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion,
We’ll understand it all by and by.

Chorus:

Farther along we’ll know all about it,
Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,
We’ll understand it all by and by.

As we can see from the song, though the answers may have to wait until heaven, it’ll be well worth it. Everything is in God’s control.