Early this morning I sat with a friend who was dying of cancer. He became a believer several months ago and I knew in a few hours he would be looking into the eyes of Jesus Christ and I thought, WOW! As he laid in a dark room I could sense his soul detaching from his body, and it just struck me in a very tangible way that heaven and hell . . . eternity . . . is very real! I felt a dual emotion raging within me: the sadness of good-bye and the joy of sending a friend on an amazing adventure. He completed that journey at 4:30 this morning and at this moment he is enjoying paradise.

Tags: death, sorrow, boldness, endurance, gospel, encourage