Imagine: Troubles Will Cease!

"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17

With the new year arriving, some of us are in turmoil; all of us have our troubles. Some of us have family members overseas in the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan or other places. Some of us are watching from afar the heightened violence that is being played out in Israel and are concerned that it could escalate into much more. Some of us have cancer or might find out sometime this year that they have it. This world's sin, pain, and hardship is great, but God is trustworthy.

What we have before us in Revelation is the final state of the believer. The one who trusts in Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins (Eph. 2:8-9) is assured that they will be before the throne in God's presence forever, worshiping and serving at his feet, and away from sin and suffering. What a promise! What a hope! What a joy! Now that is something to revel in even if we are as a nation and as individuals going through turmoil or trouble.

There will come a day for Christians when we will have every tear wiped away from our eyes and we will behold him! Now there is a sight to see: the Lamb of God who was despised and rejected of man and who was pierced for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5) and who died for us and in our place if we will but trust him (2 Cor. 5:21), this same Lamb has given us all things (Rom. 8:32), and best of all himself! This is a leader, a shepherd who will never fail, never misguide us, and never leave us (Matt. 28:18-20)!

Many have gone through their share of sufferings in 2008 and many will go through more in 2009, but there is hope, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).