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To Live Among the Former Things

Writer's picture: RachelRachel

Updated: Aug 13, 2024

Blue lake with wildflowers and green trees

God bless summer camp.


No, I mean it sincerely! I don't want to sound trite. While I appreciate it's role in allowing my kids to swim, jump, and play without me, the camp programs offered through local churches has been a huge source of blessing to us.


On the first week of summer camp for my kids, a massive storm hit our area. Now, two weeks later, hundreds of homes are rebuilding from flooded basements. My home was not exempt. But I was feeling especially sorry for myself because this current flooding was our third in two years---second in six months. Every morning on the week of the storm, I dropped my children off at camp looking hazard and feeling depleted, grateful they had a distraction for the morning.


As part of their program, we had a playlist given to us. The kids loved the music and requested to hear it on the way to camp on the last day. As I drove, my desperate heart grasped the tendrils of hope being washing over me through God's word in song.


"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 21:3-4.


We are living among the former things. We trust that earth and its pain will pass away, because we trust the God who told us it will. And as we live with wet basements, creaking limbs, broken dreams, and guttural loss, we must remember that these are the former things. They, too, will surely pass away.


We can be good stewards of the time God has given us on earth by remembering his many promises to those who believe in His name---one of which is our future of dwelling forever with our God as His people. These verses say God will dwell with us THREE TIMES. You think he's trying to tell us something?!


No mourning, no pain, no death, and God himself will wipe away my tears. What an extravagantly intimate gesture it is for God the Father, King of the universe, creator and sustainer of life, to personally wipe my tears. That is, indeed, his love for us---extravagantly intimate. He calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1), counts our tears (Psalm 56:8), formed our very being (Psalm 139)---and has condescended to dwell with us for eternity, preparing the way through his Son. Who is like our God?


My children learned about the new heaven and earth that day, revealed to us through the book of Revelation. Throughout the next week, I would answer questions about what it would look like, or heard beautiful thoughts as my children hypothesized as to what would be---and not be---there. In the fall, I'll be launching into an intensive study on this book of the Bible. I eagerly anticipate being able to tell my children more about what we have to look forward to, made even sweeter as I reluctantly renovate my basement for the third time.


While we live among the former things, we look to the One who is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). He is still creating, still with us, and still fulfilling his promise to wipe away every tear.





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Rachel Greening writes stories for kids and words of hope for grown-ups. She is a University of Toronto graduate and author of the picture book “If My Oak Tree Could Speak”. She has written for various publications such as Risen Motherhood, The Gospel Coalition, The Grace and Grit Project, Her View From Home, Just Between Us Magazine and The Truly Co. Rachel lives in Campbellville, ON  with her husband and three children. Learn more on the About page.

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