Thursday, July 22, 2010
This Too Shall Pass
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 (King James Version)
It is hard to imagine that one day we will no longer experience the brokenness, heartaches, and difficulties of life. The book of James tells me this life is just a vapor (a brief moment) compared with eternity. So no matter what I am facing I have the assurance it is temporary. I long for the day when today’s verse becomes my never ending reality.
Realize that whatever hurt, disappointment, or loss you are experiencing at the moment can also be slipped into this verse. It will one day be gone! I would invite each of us to make a list of the things that will not be following us into Heaven. Mine would include broken relationships, loneliness, fear, grief, strongholds, wrong mindsets, neediness, looking to people for what only God can give me, emptiness, and personal failures. I think of the many attitudes that will pass away: anger, envy, jealousy, competition, pride, lust, greediness, self centeredness, unforgiveness, and unthankfulness. My mouth will never again speak something that is untrue, unkind, or unnecessary. Not one painful thing from this life will be able to touch me in Heaven.
I need this reminder as I go through my day. When life gets hard I can look at the problem and say with absolute confidence, “THIS too shall pass!” I can rest in the fact that it will not always be like this. I look forward to the day when I am whole and nothing is in need of being fixed. I look forward to the day when all relationships will be as they should be. No cold shoulders, no rejection, no abandonment, and no walking away.
It has been said, for the believer, this life is the closest they will come to hell and for the non believer this life is the closest they will come to Heaven. I am saddened by the fact that what I have shared in today’s devotional is not for everyone. Today’s verse will not be their experience. Eternity for some will be just the opposite. One author’s words struck me when he viewed hell with a sign as you entered which said, “Abandon all hope.” I wish that upon no one! Jesus offers forgiveness of sin, relationship with God, and eternal life in Heaven. I pray that each person reading these thoughts this morning has accepted Him as Savior or soon will do so.
Father, I long for Heaven when my faith will become sight. When You wipe away all that makes life difficult in this world. I rejoice in knowing I will be with You and all those who know You. Even so come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
I Can Only Imagine - Mercy Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII
Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.