The Scripture declares that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5) You and I are presently living in the long night of the age of “former things” (Revelation 21:4). Tears, sorrow, crying, pain, and death are common to all of us. They are the result of Adam and Eve doubting God in the Garden of Eden. Each and every one of us has tasted of these things, and until The Lord Jesus comes to take us Home, we will taste more of them. However, God reminds us in His word that the age of former things is going to pass away.

Oh, thank God for His promise about the new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13)! Beloved, even when we see the power of God working in our lives, still the greatest cause for joy comes from knowing that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Everything in this age of former things is so transitory! Like Job, we may abound in blessings one day and find them all gone the next. What can we say to these things? “ ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there: the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’ ” (Job 1:21) “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:2). Nevertheless, we have the promise of God that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) We also have the promise that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Because of our God-wrought, blood-bought redemption that is in Christ Jesus, we have an inheritance that is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven” for us (1 Peter 1:4). This hope is a source of great comfort and strength for the child of God. May we remember in these days of former things that “our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) In those times of adversity or affliction, Jesus Christ is our help and our shield (Psalm 33:20). Even in the midst of trouble, we can have a happiness that is ‘not of this world’ for “Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” (Psalm 146:5)

“Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25) Glory to God!