Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

How would you define pain? Since 1968, the most widely used definition of pain in clinical settings is the one set forth by pain researcher Margo McCaffery: pain is “whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever and wherever the person says it does.” In other words, no one can tell another person that he or she is not in pain. Pain is as unique as the individual who professes to experience it.

Think about any pain you may be experiencing now—relational pain, physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual pain. Regardless of the kind of pain you are feeling, it will “soon” be over. The Bible says that in heaven “there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Whatever kind of pain you feel today, an eternal day is coming in which you will feel it no more—if you are a Christian and headed to heaven. Every God-designed need and longing of the human spirit, soul, and body will be met completely in Christ.

Let today’s pain lead you to tomorrow’s pleasure in heaven.

God . . . shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

C. S. LEWIS