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I read this for myself. I could hardly believe the facts. Probably because I have been so used to grabbing a tissue when the need arises. We have them in the front of our churches. Church isn’t always happy. Sometimes we are confronted with sadness. With pain. With heartache. Sometimes life makes us cry.
But I read a quote that will revolutionize the future. Revelation 21:4 says “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This says that there will come a day when all of the past hurts, pains, frustrations, challenges, and fears will come to an end. That the pain of today won’t last forever.
Some of us have conditioned ourselves to reach for the tissue box out of habit. Pain has followed us for so long that we almost won’t know what to do with it when it goes. And ‘go’ it will.
What I see is a future that will be void of pain, turmoil, fear and neglect. He prepares a place full of love, release, liberty, freedom, and joy… with no runny noses and tear-stained faces.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
A few years back I had honour of going to the CNE with my family as well as my in-laws (really… I like them). What an incredible experience! All the lights, the huge rides, the horns from the those rides attempting the break the land-speed record. I thought it was simply incredible. Apparently there were others who felt differently.
Somewhere between the cotton candy booth and the man telling me that all I had to do was put a softball in a bushel basket; in the middle of a crowd larger than life, I felt a tiny little hand slowly but methodically slide into the middle of mine. I looked down to see my little daughter taking in the sights… mesmerized, but a little overwhelmed.
It reminds me of the Psalm that says “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. (22:11)” Sometimes we can get a little like that. We enjoy our independence. We look forward to the ‘fun in the sun’ but when life becomes a little overwhelming, a little staggering, and we don’t know where to turn, we can raise our little hands and set them in the palm of the One who is not only in control, but desiring to take us through the journey together.
At least that’s how I see it,
Craig
It’s hard to tell someone to stop worrying when they aren’t the one facing the situation. I’m sure I see some nodding of some heads right now. It’s all well and good to hear that but what about when you are the one FACING it!?!
W.R. Inge wrote that ‘worry is the interest paid on trouble before it is due.’ Truth is, when you pay interest on something, it’s usually something that you already have. At least you have it. Worry on the other hand is a whole of energy and fear paid out before you even know if you have it or not. You may worry and not even face what you feared. Worry can paralyse you and stop you from being able to accomplish anything well at all.
Proverbs 12:25 says that ‘worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.’ Wow! You and I have the opportunity to help someone get out of debt… worry debt that is. The words that we use can help someone move forward in a ‘potential’ crisis before they even know whether or not they will face it.
No sense paying for stuff that you’re not even sure you’re going to get. Let’s help them face the day. Who knows when we will need the same sort of help.
At least that’s how I see it.
Craig
