在2020年冠狀病毒開始傳播時，我的朋友喬安因中風去世。起初，她的家人宣布追悼會將在教堂舉行，但後來決定最好還是在殯儀館舉行，以控制參加人數。於是，家屬在網上發布地點更新的消息：「喬安．沃納斯──轉換場地」。

是的，她轉換了場地！她的場地從地上轉換到天上。多年前，上帝改變了她的生命，她滿懷愛心地事奉上帝近五十年。即使她在醫院裡瀕臨死亡時，仍牽掛著身陷困境的親朋好友。現在她與上帝同在，她已經轉換場地了。

使徒保羅渴望在另一個地方，與基督同住（哥林多後書5章8節），但也覺得對他所服事的人來說，繼續留在世上會更好。保羅寫信給腓立比人說：「可是為了你們，我更需要活在世上」（腓立比書1章24節，新譯本）。當我們為喬安或至親好友悲傷時，我們可能也會說這些話，向上帝呼求：我需要他們在我身邊，他們的親友和他們服事的人也需要他們！但上帝知道他們和你我需要轉換場地的最佳時機。

靠著聖靈的能力，我們現今「立了志向，要得主的喜悅」（哥林多後書5章9節），直到我們面對面見到祂，而那個時候確實是好得無比！

My friend Joann passed away from a stroke just as the coronavirus began to spread in 2020. At first her family published that her memorial service would be at her church, but then it was determined it was best to hold it at a funeral home to control the size of the group attending. The new notice online read: Joann Warners—Changed Venue.

Yes, her venue had changed! She’d gone from the venue of earth to the venue of heaven. God changed her life years before, and she lovingly served Him for nearly fifty years. Even while she lay near death in the hospital, she asked about others she loved who were struggling. Now she’s present with Him; she has changed venues.

The apostle Paul had the desire to be with Christ in another venue (2 Corinthians 5:8), but he also felt it would be better for the people he served for him to remain on earth. He wrote to the Philippians, “It is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:24). When we grieve for someone like Joann, we may cry out to God something similar: They’re needed here by me and many others they loved and served. But God knows the best timing for their change of venue and our own.

In the Spirit’s strength, we now “make it our goal to please [God]” (2 Corinthians 5:9) until we see Him face-to-face—which will be far better.