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Cross cultural, Faith, Language of Eden

Dead ends and the end of the year

‘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.

So records John in his revelation in regards to the New Heaven and New Earth.

Quite the list, eh? Mourning. Crying. Pain. Death. Tears. All gone.

Even if 2012 was the BEST. YEAR. EVER. I can say with confidence, you still had pain. You mourned the loss of something or someone or an opportunity or a misspoken word. If not literal tears, metaphorical ones.

Even in the midst of the BEST. TIMES. EVER. we still are laced with death.

And if it wasn’t a great year, well, enough said.

David Rupert submitted this sign and it seemed a fitting illustration for the time of the year when we reflect on beginnings and endings.

DeadEndStreet

We weren’t supposed to have disappointments, projects left undone, pounds still on, relationships fractured, children who disobeyed, or cravings for things that leave us empty. Like this sign, Eden Lost is decorated with decay.

But a time is coming (oh, let us not grow weary reminding each other!) when there will be no more death.

John, near the end of his revelation, records, “No longer will there be any curse.”

No longer! We will be welcomed back to Eden and to our true selves!

Our language will be

Celebrating.

Laughter.

(I’m searching for a word that is the opposite of “pain” and coming up with relaxed and pain free and both are inadequate. See. See how naturally we speak death?)

Life.

Tears of joy.

No longer will there be any curse.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen

*******

Related articles found under More Signs of Eden Regained.  Seen any great signs? Send them to me at messymiddle (at) gmail (dot) com

 

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6 Comments December 31, 2012

About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. Kari Scare says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    My opposite word for “pain” would be “peace.” The more I understand God’s intentions forb”perfect peace” the more it makes sense to me.

    Reply
    • Mark Allman says

      January 1, 2013 at 1:13 am

      I like that Kari… no more pain would certainly be at peace.

      Reply
    • Amy says

      January 1, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      I think you nailed it. Thanks :)

      Reply
  2. Lizzie says

    January 1, 2013 at 1:27 am

    I’ve wondered about this topic before. Because it seems that opposites shouldn’t exist with one another…but that isn’t the case. I have never felt perfect peace..there was always pain before and within the peace. I have never felt perfect happiness, for there was always pain hiding and threatening. I have never felt perfect contentment because something was always missing. Make no mistake, I have felt peace, happiness and contentment. But never in their perfect forms. So to me the opposite of pain would be perfection.

    Perfection is what we will have in Heaven. Perfect peace, perfect happiness, and perfect contentment. There will be NO MORE tears. He will be our LIGHT and there will be NO darkness. He will be our Peace, because He is Peace.

    Reply
  3. Loren Pinilis says

    January 1, 2013 at 10:33 pm

    I heard someone say once that if you’re a Christian you can say with 100% assurance that your best days are ahead of you.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      January 1, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      Hadn’t thought of this before, but I see the truth in it!

      Reply

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