The Tomorrow That Begins Forever

We look forward with eager anticipation to what this new year will bring. We hope for the best, but understand that in the midst of all those blessings will come sorrow and pain. Despite our resolutions to the contrary, we will be disappointed in ourselves and in others. No matter how pristine tomorrow's page will be, it will soon be smudged. We will do our best, with God's help, to keep those smudges to a minimum and we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord just that little bit more during the year that is about to dawn.

Today's verse reminds me that there will dawn a day that will mark, not a new year, but an eternity of years. Unlike tomorrow, this new year of years will be greeted without that lingering shadow of reality that hangs over my shoulder as I anticipate 2010.

Here's what John says about that year of years: "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.

The "old order of things" will not even be a distant memory. The pristine page of life will remain forever dazzling white, its entries written in gold. In the presence of the King of kings who stoops to gently wipe away my tears, dispel my fears, and who takes me by the hand to personally show me the wonders of glory where the Son always shines, there will be no smudging of the copybook.

Tomorrow is a day to anticipate, the beginning of a new year to consecrate to Him. But the real celebration of the "new" year of years is yet to come.

May God grant you a vision of the best that is yet to come and bless your path as you journey toward it.