Opening Scene
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times,
the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye.
The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.
But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)
The lights dim and we snuggle down deeper into our seats, popcorn clutched in our hands, gazing up at the big screen anticipating the adventure to come. Sweeping music swells and the first scene unfolds. Indiana Jones is about to enthrall us with another adventure and, of course, being Indy, he always triumphs over his enemies.
We know the first scene in the movie is not the only scene we are going to view, that there is a whole lot more to come. The same applies to life.
Some are born into this world with a silver spoon in their mouths. Others are born into a world of struggle, their lives an uphill battle with few advantages. Infirmities or disabilities may be part of the challenge. The bases seem loaded against them.
However, our time on earth is brief and only a small fraction of our story, which started long before we were born.
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you (Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV).
And we will be spending eternity with Him in heaven.
The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 TLB).
Sandwiched in between those two eternal spaces of time is our life here on earth. If we view life through that lens, it takes on a different perspective. Pain and suffering are only for a brief season in the vast expanse of time. We can take courage, therefore, that this is earthly life is not the end. Heartache, tears, and pain will be erased. There is a brilliant future awaiting us.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4 NIV).
Our life on earth is simply the opening scene in the sweeping saga of our lives. There is so much more to come. We need to keep walking. Eternity with the Father lies ahead of us.
