Surety in Religion or Relationship?

Phyllis "Cookie" Reyes is the grandmother of two of my boys that attend the Sidewalk Sunday School in Harlem, New York. She was a wonderful grandmother. Yes, she had a short fuse and she loved to curse out the Jehovah Witnesses when they came to the door. And it was scary approaching her door, since her catholic sign on the door threatened your life. Besides this, she really loved her boys and was committed to her God in a different kind of way. For the last year or more she has been fighting cancer in her body, and it looked like she was winning. Although, just before I left for South Africa, she took a turn for the worse, and she couldn't walk no more. I brought the family food two days before I left for South Africa. She wasn't really responsive and she had deteriorated fast. I knew that she didn't have much time left. I told the boys before I left, to call me if they need anything. I prayed for the family and left for South Africa.

This Saturday, I was excited to visit her to see how she was doing. I knocked on the catholic threatening door, and Frankie, one of her grandsons opened it and the first words that came out was, grandma passed. She passed a few days after I got back from South Africa. I was a little annoyed and told the son, "Why didn't you call me?" But they had thought I was still in Africa.
I sent her a postcard from South Africa just to encourage her and to lift her spirits during her tough time. Her son told me that she received the postcard the day before she passed. In a way I got to connect with her one more time before she departed this world.
My prayer was always that she would be right with God before she left. You see, she was a very religious woman, but I was never certain about her relationship with God. I have to ask you the same thing...Which are you sure of today? Your religion or your relationship? Her son affirmed me that just before she left, she repented and got right before God.
Her son also told me that she was so afraid. Why was she afraid? Probably because of the unknown. You probably think about many things laying on your death bed. Like, is this God I say I believe in really who He says He is? Is there really a heaven or a hell? Did I live my life according to what God wanted me to, or did I miss it and die prematurely? I am not sure the thoughts or feelings of lying on the death bed, but I am sure that it can be very fearful.
Although, when you are more sure on your relationship than your religion, then the perfect love from your relationship can cast out all fear. I believe she has gone to a better place we call heaven and is now enjoying the most beautiful relationship - since there is no more need for religion anymore. There is no surety in religion, so why be religious? Seek and find a relationship with God, there within lies your confidence.

"For Thou art my hope; O Lord God, Thou art my confidence from my youth." Psalm 71:5