“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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 21:1-4)
Having grown up in Massachusetts and then residing in Southern New Hampshire for many years I became accustomed to the phrase: “Reverse the Curse.” Any baseball fan would recognize this as the attempt of the Red Sox to overcome an 87-year drought of winning the World Series. That finally happened in 2004.
When I become a Christian in early adulthood, the phrase “Reverse the Curse” took on an entirely different meaning for me, which is epitomized by this portion of Scripture. On the cross, through Christ’s death and resurrection, the curse of our sin is eliminated. His work repaired the breach between man and God, allowing us access into Heavenly realms. The ultimate thrill will be when death is no more; when death is dead, there will be “...no more mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” The curse will be completely reversed. Isn’t that what we long for now?
Long ago Adam and Eve were privileged to walk with God in the Garden of Eden, and one day we will be granted that same delight. Our loved ones are experiencing this wonderful reality right now; they are in complete fellowship with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. “... and God Himself will be with them as their God.”
God has already wiped every tear from our loved one’s eyes; shouldn’t that image help wipe away ours as well?
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