4/6/2018
Our tears and pain were never part of God's original plan for us, nor will they be part of eternity. However, we live in a sort of parenthesis in the timeline of the universe, a "present age" (Mark 10:30) between the garden (Genesis 2:8) and the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).
At the end of time, God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). We will not experience this suffering forever. But during these present times, we see the results of sin's contamination of the world: death, mourning and pain. We fail and let ourselves and others down. Others do the same. Instead of denying these negative aspects of our present life, we need to accept and deal with them in preparation for the time when God ends all the suffering. The Bible teaches us three keys that can help:
Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32), Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Grief (James 4:9), Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
Healing (Psalm 30:2). LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
We must arm ourselves with these three things. They will help us grow, recover and move past the difficult times. The good news is that the pain is not the end of the story. God will give us current healing and future paradise. Our job is to be involved in the journey with him.
Revelation 21:1-5 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, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell 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." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
HOW FORGIVENESS FREES US
Dr. John Tonsend, and Dr. Henry Cloud