A few years ago, my wife Pam was at the grocery store. While checking out, she talked with the cashier, a girl in her early twenties, and the bagger, a man closer to her age. During their conversation, one of them mentioned the various limitations that came with getting older. Pam laughed. She told the cashier that whenever she mentions the “Ed Sullivan Show” to young people, they usually have no idea of what she’s talking about. “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the cashier said, “Isn’t that the one with the talking horse?” If you don’t know why this sounds so funny, you might be a bit too young to fully appreciate today’s message. But regardless of your age, let’s consider the powerful, and hopeful, message of two New Testament passages:

Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16b-18)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. (Revelation 21:4)

These passages remind me that I’m feeling a little bit more of the weight of the passing years. The joints in my hands ache a little more. I'm more careful on ladders. Still, I usually feel good and I can do most of the things I want to do. I hope to have many more years on this earth, but I do think more often about death and dying than I used to. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, Paul tells the Corinthians he’s well aware of his passing years. Now most of us have had a pretty soft life compared to Paul—he was beaten many times and sometimes he was beaten so badly that he was left for dead. He was shipwrecked three times and imprisoned many more. I imagine Paul looked pretty rough when he got up each morning! But Paul writes, “our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.”  Today’s second passage from Revelation chapter 21, written by John while in exile, tells us what God plans to do about our troubles. Let’s listen to it again. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Does that sound good to you? It sure does to me! Though I’ve been blessed with many joys in this life, I’ve also experienced death, sorrow and pain. It’s a great comfort to know that we have a future in God—a future without the troubles we’ve experienced in this life.

Today, take a few moments and reflect on the joy of knowing Jesus—in this life—and then, on celebrating the eternal life with Him waiting for you and me up ahead. Jesus has promised us a glorious eternity with Him, without all of the aches and pains of this life...and that is very Good News!