So Much More to Come

This weekend, I had the privileged of hearing an incredible sermon on death and suffering by former Summit Church member, Trevor Atwood, who is now the lead planter and pastor of City Church in Murfreesboro, TN.   In the span of this short post, all I can do is tell you what an amazing, game-changing sermon this was and beg you to listen to it for yourself.

“If your trust is in the God that has overcome [death] in your place, then death and suffering are just the worst that can happen.  This is as close to hell as you will ever get.  But if your trust is in yourself or someone else to solve your problem of sin, and pain, and death – to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, to work hard enough, to be good enough – then death and suffering represent the foretaste of something much worse, and this is as close to Heaven as you will ever get… Trust Jesus, believe that He took your place when He died to give you life that you don’t deserve, and live like it’s true.” – Trevor Atwood 

How encouraging to think that this - this beautiful, crazy Earth - is as close to hell as I will ever get!  On one hand, the pain and suffering we experience because of sin's curse makes me long for the day when our tears will all be wiped away  by the tender, nail-scarred hand of Jesus (Revelation 21:4).  The day is coming!  And, on the other hand, experiencing the incredible beauty and joy of this world gives me a glimpse of the marvelous things to come when God calls me home - it's beyond what I can grasp.  What hope we have to know that there is more than what we see, feel, and experience on this Earth!  Oh to live in light of this truth everyday!

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And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 5:9-13