All These Things Are Gone Forever

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

December 14, 2022

All These Things Are Gone Forever

“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 21:4 

2022 has been a very violent year. Terrorists and gunman have inflicted pain, suffering and death on innocents. Hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes have brought death, devastation and unimaginable pain and suffering. The inconveniences, ailments and other matters in my life that seem so urgent may pale in significance as compared to the suffering of others, but if it were not for Christmas, I could find myself weighed down with pessimism and a sense of hopelessness.

But Christmas is a reality that changed the world forever. Christmas doesn’t mean there will be no suffering, discouragement, disappointment, frustration or even death. Christmas means that the Kingdom of God will conquer all the forces that work against the fulfillment of God’s eternal promises. All these forces may impede me now, but they cannot separate me from the everlasting love of God in Christ Jesus. Nor can they follow me into the eternal Kingdom of God.

Christmas means I can experience the presence of my Abba Father in my life now and forever. Christmas means there is a time coming when God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

My Takeaway: I know for many these truths of God may not seem like much in the stark reality of terrible losses experienced through violence and natural disasters and the loss of loved ones. Even so, I choose to fully embrace the Apostle Paul’s benediction:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NRSV)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.