Perfection

    I want us to work backwards this week. We begin on this minus 50 degree windchill kind of day in Minnesota focusing our eyes on the end of the story, and the warmth of heaven. If you are a believer in Christ (if you are not, stay tuned all week) we know we will live forever!

     One day, af the end of these earthly lives, we will live in perfection. We will have new bodies, and yet will remain our unique selves. Let this truth give you strength and hope today; giving promise to a parent’s heart as they witness their child suffer with illness, disability or disease; joy to a widow’s heart as she continues to miss her partner; an end to the labored breathing that comes with lung disease; a day to be free of temptation and addiction. A new beginning at what appears to be the end of the road.

     Finite to infinite, imperfect to perfect, perishable to imperishable, the unseen will be seen, time will become timeless. (See 1 Corinthians 15) It puts our suffering, our temptations, our grief into perspective. God will redeem all of it.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.  Romans 8:18

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17-18

     We will meet Jesus face-to-face. We will live in glory. No time-frame, no hussle and bussle. No more scurrying from place to place. No more stress! We can drink our coffee for hours on end. We will have time to speak to others in history. We will see Moses and Elijah, John and James, Mary and Joseph, Abraham and Isaac. Forever.There is no end to our story, other than a giving up of our imperfect souls and bodies. We aren’t striving and struggling just to get to the end of this life. The end is the beginning of it all. Feel the hope. See the glory. Live out your life with passion and love. All of this is achieving a glory that far outweighs it all.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.  2 Peter 3:8

    Our sufferings last only a moment in light of eternity. Take in that strength today. Count on that hope. Believe in eternity. All of this will be redeemed in His glory. And every breath on this earth can be lived for Him. Every breath is precious. He gave you life on earth and He gives new life forever.

Dear Lord,

You give us hope for tomorrow, when we will be like You, with new bodies in a perfect world. A new heaven and a new earth, with Your glory shining all around us. The Son will be the sun of heaven. No more night. No more tears. The hope of glory. Our blessed assurance.

It is Jesus.

Amen