Thinking about a statement I read today:
Christian pilgrims have the best of both worlds: joy whenever this world reminds us of the next, and solace whenever it doesn't.
Randy Alcorn in Truth, A Bigger View of God's Word
While Alcorn's statement wasn't in the context of our current Covid-19 circumstances, much of what I read these days I tend to relate to that; perhaps you do as well. As I was sitting on my back porch listening to the birds whistling to one another, watching the morning gild the sky, feeling the fanning of the cool air, I had a momentary sense of how the newly created earth must have been, and how it will some day be renewed. It brought joy to my heart and mind to think of it.
There are times, though, when we recognize that this earth is groaning in travail, awaiting the renewal that will be the New Earth. Covid-19 is a reminder that all is not well on Planet Earth. Nor has it been for thousands of years. Sickness and death surround us. Insecurity and fear creep into many houses. Anger gnaws at the soul because some fear they've lost control. They've never really had control of Planet Earth anyway. But some think they have, and loss of control is a difficult blow. And so they think someone must be to blame.
Yet, it is also times like these that can remind us of the next world. For we long for all to be right, for that cool morning sunshine and the sweet chirping of the birds to be steady, unbroken, uninterrupted. To waft through all of Creation. To know that all is well on New Planet Earth. And so it will be, for God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things will have passed away (Rev. 21:4).
Such solace for the soul. We have the best of both worlds.
Image ~ A Quiet Read in the Shade, George Goodwin Kilburn, 1839-1924
public domain via WikiGallery
