“Good-bye”

Finally, brethren, farewell. —2 Corinthians 13:11

Carrie Underwood recently released a song titled “The Good in Good-bye.”  That song got me to thinking what is “good” about saying “good-bye.”  Personally, I don’t like saying “good-bye,” to people I love.

Some good-byes are not “good” good-byes, like when a family is broken up by divorce. It is not a “good” good-bye when a disgruntled church member leaves a church. When Orpah said “good-bye” to Naomi and Ruth to return to her gods, it was not a “good” good-bye (Ruth 1:14-15).

Other “good-byes” are more-or-less expressions of “good-riddance.” I’m looking forward to saying “good-bye” to this wicked world—Good riddance!

Some good-byes are sad good-byes. In Acts 20 Paul bids the elders at Ephesus tearful good-bye as he departs to go to Jerusalem.  The elders weep because they knew they were see Paul’s face no more (vs. 27-28).

It is a “good” good-bye when saying “good-bye” to one thing, makes us stronger in something better—Like saying “good-bye” to a bad habit, or besetting sin, that hinders us in running the race God as placed before us.

A “good” good-bye would be one necessitated by someone doing the will of God.  For example, a missionary says “good-bye” to his home church to go serve God on a foreign land.  It is a “good” good-bye because the will of God is good (Rom. 12:2).

Some “good-byes” in life are hard to understand. But, as Carrie sings, “Someday you’ll see the reason why—Sometimes there’s good in good-bye.”

The truth is, Christians never say “Good-bye” for the last time.  You may say “good-bye” to a loved one as they depart this world to go to heaven. But if they are saved, you will see them again.

I’m glad when we get to heaven, there will no more “good-byes.”