Minister's Blog

You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!
Last month during Spring break Lucas and I went camping for a couple of nights in Arkansas. We stayed at Mount Nebo State Park and spent one day hiking and exploring Petit Jean State Park. Both mornings I spent time sitting on a rock watching the sun come up over the Arkansas River valley, probably 1,000 feet below our perch. I was reminded of Psalm 19:4b-6: In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course. It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. As beautiful and awe-inspiring as God’s creation may be, we are not able to enjoy it without reminders of sin, death and the Fall. I read plaques and monuments placed to remember the trials of Native Americans that travelled through that area on the Trail of Tears, explorers who struggled and died to tame the area, and early settlers that were subject to hunger and floods. Even the beauty and grandeur of the views was hampered a little by the cold temperatures and the gusting winds. It is necessary for us to persevere through the struggles, hardships, and pain of this life to enjoy its blessings. For those who are in Christ, it will not always be this way. That is the hope of the resurrection!
Our earthly bodies are blessings from the Lord, yet constantly we are reminded of their failings. I was reminded of this during some of the hikes Lucas and I took. I consider myself to be in pretty good health, but there is no substitute for youth. I was forced to go slow downhill to preserve my joints and slow uphill to conserve my oxygen. All the while, Lucas was scampering ahead of me and then having to wait for the old man to catch up. The physical battles we face with sickness and aging are paralleled by the Spiritual battles we encounter with temptation and sin. Praise God, we know it will not always be this way. That is the hope of the resurrection.
Easter and every Lord’s Day is a celebration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has defeated the curse, sin, and death! This is why the words of Revelation 21:4-5 are possible: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” Even as we enjoy God’s blessings now, don’t forget, you ain’t seen nothing yet! What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9