I don’t think anything would aid us more in the here and now, brothers & sisters in Jesus, than keeping in mind what is to come then and there in the new creation. This is what strengthens us to keep our hope and to keep loving in words and actions in these brutal days of global
suffering and unrest. This is what constantly reminds us it will not always be this way. I yearn to see pastors and teachers preach and teach more on what is to come. I believe it would make us more energetic to serve sacrificially if we were constantly reminded this suffering
is momentary and this groaning earth is temporary. I think this is a bit of what Paul was talking about when he said the crown of righteousness awaits those who “love Christ’s appearing.” My reading this morning was out of 1 John 3. I’d love to share verses 2-3 & 14,16 with you:
“Dear friends, we are God’s children now and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is… we know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters…This is how we
have come to know love: [Jesus] laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” There is a day coming when God, with his very hand, will wipe away every tear. There is a day coming when sickness will be no more and all violence & hatred
shall cease. I’m thinking of the apostles John and Peter and Paul. They spoke so often on what was to come. It sustained them continually through what was present. One day, dear loved ones of God, this will all be behind us and we will forever be with the Lord. Until then, the
Lord is with us to strengthen us to keep loving, keep living faithfully, keep believing and enduring and laying down our lives for others. In just a little while, this will be behind us. So for just this little while, we labor to rest & to do the works of the One who called us.
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