[4 minutes, 685 words, 2 minute video]
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.
Revelation 21:4
My wife shared something beautiful with me some time ago that made me think of this passage. She said, “As time goes on, I’m able to feel less and less grief about Graham‘s passing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still there, but less so as the years go by.”
I thought deeply about what she said and told her she helped me see something I’d given so little thought to. At the end of time, when Christ comes and makes all things new, the pain and heartache of our earthly years will be erased. While we will surely remember each other, we won’t remember our sorrows and sadnesses.
“Pain will be no more.” Every grief, all our tears, and the hard sting of pain will be wiped clean in that New Day.
The grace of Sandy’s lessened grief is a foretaste of the new heavens and new earth. Whatever you’re going through, Easter reminds us it’s not always going to be this way.
The resurrection means we can look forward with hope to the day our suffering will be gone. But it even means that we can look forward with hope to the day our suffering will be glorious.
On the Day of the Lord – the day that God makes everything right, the day that everything sad comes untrue – on that day the same thing will happen to your own hurts and sadness. You will find that the worst things that have ever happened to you will in the end only enhance your eternal delight. On that day, all of it will be turned inside out and you will know joy beyond the walls of the world. The joy of your glory will be that much greater for every scar you bear.
– Timothy Keller, Jesus The King
Joni Eareckson Tada attended a convention during which a speaker invited the people to kneel and pray. Everyone did except, of course, Joni.
“With everyone kneeling, I certainly stood out. And I couldn’t stop the tears.” Her emotional moment wasn’t out of self-pity; she was crying at the sight of hundreds of people on their knees before God. For Joni, it was a preview of heaven!
Sitting there, I was reminded that in heaven I will be free to jump up, dance, kick, and do aerobics. And…. sometime before the guests are called to the banquet table at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, the first thing I plan to do on resurrected legs is to drop on grateful, glorified knees. I will quietly kneel at the feet of Jesus.
I was blessed to be interviewed for the video at the top of this post that was shown in this morning’s Easter services. Full disclosure: I felt a bit awkward sitting there watching it with everybody else! Plus, it’s not easy to see yourself up there on the big screen. Why didn’t I sit up straighter? Gracious me, I thought I was losing more weight than that! Wow, I’ve really gotten old. Aside from all my wood-hay-and-stubble vanity, I’m very pleased with how it came out.
Those opening words were so important for me to share, and I’m delighted they made the cut. Every morning I wake up, I tell Jesus two things: it’s my honor to do this for You, and please allow me to suffer well — in a way that brings You all the glory.
I don’t love paralysis, but I love Jesus. One day my eyes “will see the King in His beauty, and I will see a vast land…I will no longer see the barbarians…but I will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander…for the Majestic One, our Lord will be there…and none there will say I am sick.” (Isaiah 33:17-24, CSB)
I’ll be easy to spot; you’ll find me at the feet of Jesus.
Selah, beloved. A blessed Easter to you.
Bud…that was plumb good.
Thanks so much, Jon. Happy Resurrection Day, brother!
Thank you, Scott! What a beautiful reminder to always include perspective in our evaulatuons of the happenings in our lives. I can change everything…the bad to good and, if we allow it (sadly), it can change God glorious actions (or inaction) into grief and despair.
I love you, brother. I hope you and Sandy, Karen, Derrick and tge rest are doing well. Please tell them all I said hello. God bless you.
What a blessing to hear from you again, Robin! Amen to your words, girl. This is the secret of a blessed life and I’m so glad I’ve been able to live one. Much love to you! I’ll pass your greetings along, kind friend.
It will surely be “worth it all” my dear friend. A day of rejoicing that will never end. Looking forward with you with tip toe anticipation. My love always.
Thank you, Brett. I love your kind, loving spirit and steadfastness in Christ. I have no doubt you will hear those treasured words in eternity, “Well done, good and faithful servant.“ Love you, brother.
Praise God!! I think we all long to see Jesus to come back. That will be awesome to see you jump and dance. Scott , I go to West Huntsville Baptist Church. You might recognize my name
You will never be forgotten, Sonya! You all have been a family to us and we have lived long and well on the treasured memories of our times together. Thank you for sharing these lovely words with me today, my sister.
I met you years ago while at Tennessee Temple University, I want to thank you for all your encouragement! And ask for prayer for my marriage ! He doesn’t Love me anymore and can’t even tell . I’m scared and completely shattered. Why and Dose a good Godly man decide to give up a wonderful family for /wordly crap. Please pray for us I Love him with my whole heart and He just keeps pushing me and our girls away. Pray God restores our family and hearts. Thank you for still thouching lives
Nader
I have added you to my prayer list, Lisa. My dear sister in the Lord, He sees the agony of your soul. Our merciful Friend knows how you cry in secret and all the pain you bear. Our Faithful Father is holding you in His tenderness and singing over you His soft melodies of grace and healing. You are not alone. I am also praying for your husband, dear one. Thank you for holding your family together in this crisis admirably and faithfully loving your husband even as he chooses the way of sorrow and emptiness. May the Lord mercifully guide his heart back to His fold and restore you as you once knew. Or even better than you once knew. Take heart, Lisa. Others are reading your comment here, I’m sure, and they are joining in prayers for you. “God is your helper. He is the sustainer of your life.” (Psa 54:4) I pray the Lord allows your boundaries to fall in pleasant places and adds life to your years.
Lisa, I have just received this message from a dear friend who wants you to know: “I will be praying for this dear one, for her husband and for their family. What a scary and desperate place she is in. I am praying now that she would be able to feel the Lord’s arms wrapped tightly around her and that she could hear His tender voice whispering her name and reminding her that she is not alone.”
You are not alone.
I’m still praying for you, Lisa. May the Lord cover you and comfort you and restore the years the locusts have eaten. In Jesus name.
It was lovely to see you on the video, Scott, and thank you for the reminder of coming joy! I was talking to a little girl once, whose grandmother had gone on to Heaven, and I asked her what she thought her grandmother was doing in Heaven. I tend to think of not being in pain, being not as old, not as burdened. She looked at me and said, “I think she’s jumping on a trampoline!”
Wow, out of the mouth of babes. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard . . .
May the Lord bless and keep you and Sandy, make His face shine upon you, and give you peace.
Kimberly, fellow sufferer and dear saint of God, thank you! What a day that will be when our Jesus we shall see…Love that story about the trampoline 😄! As for myself, I never got to snow ski or ride a motorcycle so I’m banking on there being Harleys in heaven! Thank you for kindly responding to this, dear friend. Love to the Thigpens with out deepest admiration.
I have been blessed to hear you say so many beautiful things through the years, but I don’t think I have ever heard you talk about that humbling prayer you pray most mornings. So humbling… so profound… so surrendered… such a perspective changer. WOW! Thank you for the reminder that we “get” to live this life for HIM…even the hard things… may we carry it well. I am forever changed by how you and Sandy live your “get to.” We love you guys!! Happy Resurrection Day!!
Every moment we get to spend with you and Alan, as we were fortunate to do just recently, is like a postcard from heaven. Our friendship reminds us of home! Our joys on earth are multiplied because we “get to” hang around you both, however long, but enthrall us to realize we get to spend eternity with you! Imagine the amazing “road trips” we’ll take! We love you both and cherish you.
I am blessed to serve my Lord after my fiance passing.The Lord has been faithful to speak to me after all.I would like to send a condolence for my step father Jack Nunn may he be welcomed in heaven’s gates to greet my mother.They were a blessed couple that would help anybody they could.Any time anyplace.My dad would say retirement was out of this 🌎
Precious words from a precious heart! Thank you, Laurie, for writing so movingly about your stepfather and sharing the painful ache in your heart over the passing of your fiancé. What a joy to know you will be reunited in the heavenly realm with your loved ones forever. May your heart know peace in these days, dear one.
Amazing Grace! That’s how any of us can go through life as it is God’s amazing grace and strength that enables us to live each day through heartache, grief and pain. I thought of the song, “The Fire” by Debby Jackson immediately after reading your post. “It hasn’t been much fun, but the work that it has done–In my life has made it worth the hurt….So He always knows what’s best, And it’s when we are distressed…That we really come to love God as He is.” Oh, the hope and joy of knowing that one day our faith in Him will be sight as we ALL kneel at His feet in awe and praise! It is the Hope of the Resurrection that makes all the difference in our lives! Much love to you and Sandy! Praying that one day soon we will all be together with the LORD! Until then may we keep our eyes on Him trusting and sharing the HOPE we have in Christ!
My dear Beth, that song has been so special to me down through the years. Every word of it was borne from the furnace of great affliction by another dear sister in Christ and has been the grace-filled summation of my entire testimony through the decades. Thank you for sharing those words. May Christ continue to be a praise in your life and keep your heart glowing for our Blessed Hope! Much love to y’all!
Dear Scott, I am Todd Skinner’s mom and just read your Easter blog. Thank you for being in his life. I was able to attend the service via my pc. I felt the love in your words and thank you for sharing them. Todd speaks of you often and he admires you so much. I am grateful for you. May God continue to bless your ministry.
My dear Peggy, please forgive me for not responding to you much sooner. I have had some health issues of late, but my Heavenly Father is holding and keeping me. It’s so wonderful to have you as one of my regular readers. What an encouragement you are! I can tell where Todd gets his wonderful spirit and kindness! You’ll never know what it means to me to have you as part of this family of readers. Thank you also for taking time out to write. May the Lord bless and keep you and be gracious to you.
Dear Scott, Thank you for your gracious reply. I have been praying for you and the medical team caring for you to bring healing to your body. May each day be better than the day before according to our Saviour’s plan.
Precious one, thank you for your loving intercessions on my account. The Lord’s beauty shines through you, Peggy! Little by little, day by day, the Father is restoring me and healing me in answer to your prayers. May the faithful love of Jesus rest upon you as well and give you His peace.