“Stretch”

A long, cross country road trip in a car can be a memorable experience as you visit new places, see new things and try new foods. But all of that time spent in a car can eventually begin to become uncomfortable. Just sitting on the seat of the car, you are rather restricted in your movements. You can sort of lean back and forth and move your legs around a little, but eventually you will reach a point where you just have to get out of the car because you just got too uncomfortable. As soon as you open up your car door and step out, what do you do after such a long ride? You spread your arms out wide and stretch your muscles out and walk around to loosen up the rest of your body.

Doesn’t that feel so good? We all probably do this every morning when we wake up. After a good night’s rest you throw your legs over the side of your bed, stand up and stretch. It feels so nice doesn’t it? Any of those tired, stiff muscles feel so much better once you stretch them out, much like a massage. When you massage a sore muscle it begins to loosen up and by the time that you have finished it will feel so much better, almost like it was “brand new.”

But that is a fact of life. Our bodies all become older over the years. The strength that one may have had while they were young will diminish somewhat when they become older. Our bodies will “wear out” like a tire on a car. We will develop pains in areas where we never had them before. We might become tired after a short run, as we realize that we are not as young as we used to be. 

But through all of these aches and pains, we can all look forward to the day when we will be in a place where there is no more pain. No more sickness, no more tears from the broken bones and bruises. That day is the day in which we go to be with the Lord. 

Romans 8:16-25  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

In Heaven we will no longer feel pain. There will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more aches and pains. And as death is representative of sin, there will of course be no more death in Heaven, but we all all live forever. What an amazing day that will be! 

Revelation 21:1-4  “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Do not despair, if you love the Lord and keep His commandments you will be the beneficiary of His blessings. We just need to be filled with patience until that glorious day. It is coming, and although no one knows when that day is, we need to diligently and patiently wait for it, so that one day we can wake up, and “stretch” as we step through those pearly gates.

In Christ,

Andrew