12 months of Coronavirus
It’s been just over a year since the World Health Organisation told the world about the Coronavirus. No one could have expected the months that followed, and we are still battling this dreadful disease.
I find the idea of getting so terribly sick, and the idea of dying from the disease, really scary. In one sense, I can’t wait to join my Lord. But I admit to being afraid; not of dying, but of the way I might die…the pain and the fear in those last moments.
And just when I feel like I might despair, along comes Revelations chapter 21, verses 3 – 4. God tells us that He will wipe away every tear and get rid of death, mourning, crying and pain. We will be free of such heartbreaking emotions.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation chapter 21, verses 3-4).
A world with no pain, mourning, death and crying
Can you imagine how wonderful this will be? We will no longer mourn for ourselves or for our loved ones. We will be celebrating in Heaven with the One who loves us the most. There will be no reason to cry or mourn. We will never die. Pain will not exist.
This image is something I use to calm myself when I start to worry about death and life afterwards. It reminds me that God is already there and I need not worry. When I feel miserable, it reminds me that I won’t feel sad when I return home. When it hurts, it reminds me that I will be renewed in the Lord and I will no longer hurt.
I want to make sure you understand that it isn’t a sin to experience these emotions this side of Heaven. The world is full of sin and unhappiness and, as those who are not of the world but only in it, we will experience it all the more than those seeking pleasure.
We are allowed to mourn our loved ones who may have passed away. We are allowed to feel hurt when we are attacked by friends or enemies. We are allowed to cry when it all becomes too much. But there is a way God would like us to respond: by believing in His promises.
The promises of God
It’s important that we hold on to the promises of God. There are many promises of God in the Bible and as you go through them (particularly in the Old Testament) you can check them all off. God always does what He promises.
So what does this mean for us? It means that one day there will be no more mourning, pain, crying and death. We can truly believe in this promise because we know that God does all He promises. I hope this trust in Him helps you through these difficult emotions.
And one day, we will return home and that promise will also come true. Praise the Lord for His wonderful, caring nature.
Emma Bamford from Melbourne is returning as a Press Service International writer for Christian Today. Emma is undertaking a part time theology course and is a qualified business marketer. A self-confessed Jesus girl, Emma writes to stir the heart of her readers into becoming more passionate and loving Christians.