Heaven Opens Over Arlington

I've just gotten home from LaVon Bontrager's funeral, and the main thing I remember hearing there was what David Y. said he was not saying to be sensational. But I'm saying it because it really is sensational, and I don't care if it's sensational. It's true, and that's what matters.

It happened in Arlington, the night LaVon died there at home on the edge of town. Actually, he died at 12:30 AM. About 45 minutes before that, his mother-in-law, who has been here for a number of weeks to help out, saw him with his eyes wide open, focused on something above him. His eyes looked eager and glad. For days, he had hardly opened his eyes, so this was unusual. She called Mamie, LaVon's wife, to come and see.

At the same time, people who were driving through Arlington saw a bright light shining out of heaven onto the town. What did that mean?

I'm not sure, but I'm reviewing some of what I know to be true. God honors those who choose Him in life. Glory awaits them when they leave this earth. A life well-lived brings God's presence to a place. God honors that place for the sake of His people, and for the sake of those who are not yet His people, but who are loved and called by God. Therein lies hope--and a reason for going on with living.

A bright light shining out of heaven . . . on Arlington, where some terrible things have happened. Several weeks ago it was an explosion at the grain elevator, and severe burns for the person who was there when it happened. A number of years ago it was the murder of two-year-old twins and their babysitter. The bad thing that happened this week was the death of one of the town's Christian businessmen--a fine wood craftsman, but this time the bad thing was different because glory shown out of heaven at the same time. Perhaps this is the beginning of a new era for Arlington--the bearing of fruit from seeds sowed more than 40 years ago when Eldon and Mary Ellen Bontrager moved their family to that place, and continued to live their Christian life among their neighbors.

Go with God, LaVon, and thanks for blessing Arlington with your presence--and with God's.