This Too Shall Pass

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe 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." Revelation 21:1-4

Someone said that the most enduring words are “this too shall pass.” That’s exactly what John saw in this revelation. Everything that we have ever known is going to pass away and be replaced completely by a new heaven and a new earth.

The old world and all of its problems will all be gone: no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Our sinfulness will be gone. So, will the sinful acts and attitudes of others. That does sound heavenly.

After His resurrection, Jesus gave us an idea of what a resurrection body would be like. He suddenly appeared to His disciples without necessarily using a door. Yet, He showed the scars on His hands and feet, and He ate (John 20:19-23). Jesus and those who follow Him will have a body that will never perish, spoil or fade (1 Corinthians 15). We won’t age. We won’t have aches and pains. Our hair color will actually come from our roots.

This life on earth is important. This life is our preparation for the next. This life is our chance to point others to Christ through our loving words and kind actions. Oh, but the next life, it will be worth it all.