I’m grateful to The Good Book Company for sponsoring the blog this week. They wanted to tell you about a new book that is meant to help you disagree with others while maintaining your friendship with them—rather an important and timely subject.

I don’t have many Kindle deals to share with you yet, but I’m certain there will be plenty in the morning once I’ve scoured the monthly deals.

I had never heard of romantasy until the other day when someone mentioned the Empyrean novels to me. Kathryn Butler explains what you may need to know about the genre.

Jacob calls on young people to own their faith. “If God has gifted you with a healthy church and parents that love Christ, be so thankful! See your own faith as connected to theirs, but not dependent. They labored hard so that you would leave and be a beacon for Christ on your own. They desire to see you making godly choices. They want you to make the decision to wake up early and seek God’s face. The time for hand-holding is over. Your parents won’t stand before the judgement seat of Christ for you.”

John Piper offers some tips for reading Romans, drawing upon his decades of experience in doing so.

“Isn’t that how temptation is? The more you give in, the more temptation grows. Scratch the itch; the itch intensifies. Watch porn; the desire to watch porn grows. Lie about something; the more you find yourself caught in lies. Once you give into rage, the harder it is to turn away from it. This is how it is for any temptation.”

Here is some brief instruction on properly confessing our sins.

“As a general rule, I try not to yell at my children. But there are rare circumstances when I find myself with no other option…”

One of the great strengths of Tolkien’s work is its grounding in history. One of the great weaknesses of the contemporary church is its detachment from its own history. Few of today’s Christians have a clear sense of how the church came to be. 

Evil is not a principle in creation itself but is the willful distortion of good gifts into an arsenal deployed against God’s reign.
—Michael Horton

Somewhere deep inside, each one of us longs for more. We want more money, more authority, more followers, more of whatever it is that we find especially desirable or especially validating. “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,” says the Sage, “and never satisfied are the eyes of man” (Proverbs 27:20). We live within a vicious…

February is typically a solid month for book releases, and this February was no exception. As the month drew to its close, I sorted through the many (many!) books that came my way this month and arrived at this list of new and notables. In each case, I’ve provided the editorial description to give you a sense of what it’s all about. I hope there’s something here that’s of interest to you!

The Steadfast Love of the Lord: Experiencing the Life-Changing Power of God’s Unchanging Affection by Sam Storms. “Many believers know that ‘God is love.’ But whether through cultural lies, false beliefs, or years of mulling over the tragedies of the world, it may be difficult to see the true, steadfast, and unchanging love of the Father. Thankfully the Bible offers a clear picture of what God’s love looks like and how, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, believers experience his affection for themselves. Taking an accessible approach to biblical theology, author Sam Storms explores Scripture to address what God’s love is and what it isn’t. Drawing insights from the Psalms and the life of Jesus, Storms covers God’s sovereignty and the saving power, longevity, and sin-killing nature of his love. The Steadfast Love of the Lord breaks down obstacles that prevent believers from accepting biblical truths and challenges the cultural lies that hinder them from accepting God’s vast and unfathomable love.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Lest We Drift: Five Departure Dangers from the One True Gospel by Jared C. Wilson. “How do we keep from drifting away from what makes us who we are? How do we even know we’re drifting? In this provocative new book, Jared C. Wilson discusses the potentials and problems with evangelical departures from gospel-centrality. In a variety of ways, on both “the left” and “the right,” Wilson outlines these threats from angles sometimes imperceptible at first glance. As you read Lest We Drift, you will recognize the signs of drift in the faith and teaching, and learn to navigate the five particular dangers prevalent in the church today: persecution complex, spiritual dryness, superficial faith, attractional pragmatism, cultural legalism. With biblical wisdom and cultural insight, this book will help you identify these potential hazards in your own Christian life and church; becoming better alert to the need to’”pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it’ (Heb. 2:1).” (Buy it at Amazon)

Morning and Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional by Charles Spurgeon, edited by Alistair Begg. Alistair Begg’s modernization of Morning and Evening has been around for a while, but has just gotten a nice new cover treatment. “For over 100 hundred years, Christians have started and ended each day with Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening as a companion. Featuring two brief daily readings throughout the year, this classic devotional emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ and consistently meditating on God’s word. The richness of Spurgeon’s biblical understanding offers a look into the heart of one of England’s foremost pastors and enduring Christian authors. In this edition, his lasting message is made even more accessible by pastor Alistair Begg’s careful modernizing of Spurgeon’s English. Begg, who has a deep love for Spurgeon’s preaching and especially for this work, has maintained Morning and Evening’s clear passion and commitment to Christ. Along with updated language, this edition uses the English Standard Version as the scriptural text, providing an accurate, understandable foundation for each reading.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Pain of a Particular Kind by Peter Barnes. “There are few things which any parent dreads more than the thought of outliving his or her child, or grandchild. The deaths of parents, friends, relatives and even one’s spouse are terrible indeed, but the death of one’s child possesses a peculiar kind of horror. In four brief chapters, Peter Barnes draws on his own experience to offer help to those who have suffered such a loss. As he says in the Introduction, ‘This is not a work of apologetics, but a brief attempt to understand and work through grief, for myself, my family, and for any other readers. It has only heightened the sense of my own need to receive comfort myself. Such comfort can only come from the God who is our creator and our redeemer. The hope remains that God will use this book to minister to and bless any of his people who have suffered the agony of losing a child.’” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Art of Disagreeing: How to Keep Calm and Stay Friends in Hard Conversations by Gavin Ortlund. “In this positive and practical book, Gavin Ortlund looks to the Scriptures to discover a way in which to disagree with others that leads to greater understanding, peace, and love—and that shows a watching world something of Jesus. This is a much-needed message in a society that is losing the ability to disagree well. Whether over politics, religion, or culture, or the more everyday issues of normal life, points of view tend to be held with a polarizing intensity. Too often we view disagreements as must-win contests or simply do our best to avoid them altogether. Looking to Jesus’ example of courage and kindness, readers will be given a framework for engaging in intense disagreements with a love that furthers instead of hinders relationships. So, whether you tend to fight or flee, learn how to keep calm and stay friends—even when you disagree.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Understanding Trauma: A Biblical Introduction for Church Care by Steve Midgley. “Many of us long to serve and be there for those who are suffering from trauma, but we don’t know how to do so in a way that is caring and helpful. This book enables Christians, and especially pastors, elders, and ministry leaders, to understand what trauma is and how it affects people, including their experience of church, so that we can lovingly support those who are suffering from it. Author Steve Midgley trained as a psychiatrist before being ordained, served as Vicar of Christ Church Cambridge for 18 years and is now the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK. He writes with wisdom and compassion to summarize current understanding in this area, gives a biblical perspective, and makes lots of practical suggestions about how churches can be sensitive to, and be there for, those who have experienced trauma. This book will help whole church communities to help and care for those who are struggling with trauma.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

The Final Triumph of God: Jesus, the Eyewitnesses, and the Resurrection of the Body in 1 Corinthians 15 by James P. Ware. “A groundbreaking exposition of the resurrection hope in 1 Corinthians 15 Making a compelling case based on new evidence and fresh exposition, James Ware affirms the church’s historic reading of 1 Corinthians 15. He shows that the apostolic formula in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 proclaims, in continuity with the Gospels, the resurrection of Jesus’s crucified body from the tomb, and that the hope of the resurrection described in 1 Corinthians 15:12-58 involves the miraculous revivification of our present bodies of flesh and bones and their transformation to imperishability. Ware’s monumental study is unmatched for its comprehensive examination of the historical setting, literary structure, syntax, and vocabulary of 1 Corinthians 15. This in-depth verse-by-verse commentary provides new insights into the text, original solutions to hitherto seemingly irresolvable difficulties, and a convincing reading of the chapter unfolding its rich theology of the resurrection as the consummation of union with Christ.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Understanding God’s Word: An Introduction to Interpreting the Bible by Jon Nielson. “A faithful believer will spend their lifetime interpreting God’s word. But when confused by ancient and complex texts or led astray by small-group discussion, readers are at risk of making faulty conclusions and unbiblical applications. How can Christians correctly interpret and faithfully apply Scripture to their lives the way God intends? This helpful guide presents 6 hermeneutical tools and demonstrates how to use them effectively in personal or small-group Bible studies. These tools are designed to help Christians read carefully and in context, identify core themes and main points, discover Christ in each passage, and respond faithfully within their own lives. Part of the Theology Basics series, this guide by author and pastor Jon Nielson makes biblical interpretation clear, meaningful, and practical for those looking for a highly accessible guide to studying God’s word.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

Grateful: 30 Days of Growing in Thankfulness by Allison Brost. “Become more and more grateful each day with the help of this 30-day devotional. Uproot the weeds of discontent and begin to plant daily seeds of thanksgiving that bloom into joy and fulfillment. When life feels mundane or trials come our way, thanking God for his blessings doesn’t always come naturally. This devotional shows how offering a sacrifice of praise can transform our own outlook on life and remind us of Jesus’ goodness and generosity. Each devotion begins with a verse on thankfulness and ends with a practical thing to do or pray in response to God’s word. As readers grow in gratitude, they will experience a deeper sense of peace, contentment, and joy.” (Buy it at Amazon)

But Now I See: Eye-Opening Light from the Gospel of John by Gerald M. Bilkes. “The Gospel of John witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet it is apparent from John’s account that not everyone who perceived Jesus with their physical eyes saw Him for who He truly is. In But Now I See, Gerald M. Bilkes walks us through a study of this gospel, sharing the same intent as the apostolic author, ‘that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name’ (John 20:31). As you read about how Jesus is the light; the Lamb of God; the way, the truth, the life; the resurrection; the Vine; and so much more, may you also come to say, ‘We beheld his glory’ (John 1:14).” (Buy it at Amazon)

The Afternoon of Life: Finding Purpose and Joy in Midlife, Second Edition by Elyse Fitzpatrick. “With humor, transparency, and biblical wisdom, Elyse Fitzpatrick shows that God uses the challenges of middle age—often the most difficult time in a woman’s life—to glorify himself and sanctify us. Drawing on Scripture and the stories of friends, she shows that when we cling to him as the source of our joy, peace, and blessing, we can laugh at the days to come.” (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)

This week’s deal at Westminster Books is Kevin DeYoung’s Daily Doctrine, a book I’m sure you’ll benefit from. I’ve been reading it with Aileen at one chapter per day after dinner and enjoying it.

As usual, you’ll find a variety of Kindle deals to browse through.

“Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, creators of Good Mythical Morning, were recent guests on Rainn Wilson’s ‘Soul Boom’ podcast where they briefly discussed details surrounding their respective deconstructions from the evangelical Christian faith.” Blake discusses some of what they talked about.

Chloe Ann discusses “the three essential elements of a good romance novel that have gradually been vanishing from mainstream romance tales, and why these three elements are necessary for a good story.”

It’s always a big day when CityAlight releases a new EP. Be sure to give a listen to “Hear the Hallelujahs Roar.”

You may not have noticed that Tim Keller was the king of endnotes. Trevin noticed and compiled some of his favorites.

“Prior to ministry, you imagine that the inertia of pastoral life will drive you joyfully into deep communion with Jesus. But it doesn’t take long to realize how wrong that idealism is.” Luke Simmons offers some counsel that may prove especially helpful to pastors.

I appreciate the perspective Lois offers here and the distinctions between grief, missing, and remembering. Her concern is that we do not allow ourselves to remain permanently in a state of grief.

They work to dwarf themselves, to resist the impulse to grow their knowledge and stretch their faith. They restrain the Spirit who would so readily help them to grow. They give themselves a bonsai faith.

The love of Jesus has never waned. He has promised that he will be with you in your misery, and your tested faith will shine gloriously when you see him face-to-face.
—Ed Welch

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

Today’s Kindle deals include several titles meant to help prepare you for Easter. There’s quite a substantial list of other titles as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Quest for More)

Anyone who has experienced deep grief, or anyone who wants to be equipped to walk with others through such a time, will be helped by this article. The writer expresses “10 things that are different than what I expected as I consider the road of loss and grief.”

“For a Christian, one of the most effective uses of our time is an activity that looks to most people—and maybe quite often to ourselves—like one of the most inefficient. And yet, if we really believe what we say we believe, and if we really trust our Saviour to guide us, then it is indispensable: Prayer.”

Join The Master’s Academy International and over 40 missions leaders for a one-of-a-kind international symposium designed to teach missions-minded believers how to support overseas church planting and raise up leaders for international mission endeavors. You’ll have the opportunity to explore cross-cultural practices, practical applications, and network and fellowship with believers from around the world. Each attendee receives TMAI’s inaugural Biblical Missions 1,000-page textbook and workbook—featuring 100 voices from 60 nations—as a complimentary gift. Tuesday, March 4, 9 AM–5:30 PM,
Grace Baptist Church, Santa Clarita. (Sponsored)

Stephen discusses the surprising return of the dumb phone and the need to return to “dumb church.”

Wanjiru Ng’ang’a considers whether Christians should plead the blood of Jesus.

Casey McCall isn’t into following celebrities and their relationships, but has made one exception. He tells us about it here.

Yes, whatever did happen to acts of God? It seems today we prefer to put the blame for natural disasters on people instead of ascribing them to the sovereignty and power of God.

If people will give account for even the careless words they speak, how much more the deliberate? …If even the words count that we speak off the record, how much more the ones that we speak on the record?

Do what the Lord bids you, where he bids you, as he bids you, as long as he bids you, and do it at once.
—C.H. Spurgeon

Somewhere deep inside, each one of us longs for more. We want more money, more authority, more followers, more of whatever it is that we find especially desirable or especially validating. “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,” says the Sage, “and never satisfied are the eyes of man” (Proverbs 27:20). We live within a vicious cycle of longing, receiving, and longing all over again.

Yet the longing for more is not always bad and not necessarily wrong. There may be good reasons to long for more—more gifts, more responsibilities, more opportunities to serve the Lord. God is not opposed to giving us more. But he means to give us more according to our faithfulness with what he has already given.

Give me a bigger congregation, wishes the pastor! But what are you doing with the one you have now? Are you being a faithful shepherd over that small flock? And are you really ready to accept the weightier responsibility that will come with more?

Give me more readers, wishes the author! But how are you being faithful with the readers you have at this moment? How are you blessing and serving them with the words you write? Your faithfulness with hundreds predicts your faithfulness with thousands or millions.

Give me more money, wishes almost every one of us! But how are you proving yourself a faithful steward of the money God has already blessed you with? It is folly to think generosity depends upon abundance. If you will not give out of your lack, you will not give out of your plenty.

If you will not be committed to God’s purposes in little things, you provide no evidence that you will be committed to God’s purposes in great things. If you cannot faithfully steward little there is no reason to think you will faithfully steward much. Hence, God may be holding back what you long for to save you from the catastrophe of being unfaithful in much. He may be saving you from yourself. What you count a sorrow could actually be a rich blessing, for if you get what you want, it might destroy you.

God has placed you in the situation in which you can best prove your faithfulness to him. He has placed you right where you can best serve his cause. It is today that he means for you to prove your sincerity, here that he means for you to prove your love, and now that he means to for you to prove your devotion—in this circumstance, in this sphere, with this quantity.

It is folly to think generosity depends upon abundance. If you will not give out of your lack, you will not give out of your plenty.Share

And it is when you have proven yourself in this—when you have accepted it with joy and stewarded it with faithfulness—that God may see fit to give you that. Thus, if there is any longing for more in your heart, let it first be a longing for more of God’s glory, more of God’s fame, more wonder that he has seen fit to give you any of his blessings when you are so undeserving. And when you have proven yourself in what God has already given, when you have dedicated it to his cause and enlarged it for his purposes, perhaps he will deem you suitable to be stewards of more. Or maybe he will keep you just where you are and just as you are. Either way, you can trust him fully.

So don’t resent that you serve God in a small arena. Don’t feel sorry for yourself that you write for a small audience or preach before a small congregation. Be honored that God lets you serve him at all and deploy what he’s given you for the good of others and the glory of God. Be faithful in little and fully discharge your duty before God. Leave it to the riches of his wisdom to determine whether he will call you to prove your faithfulness over more.

Westminster Books has many different varieties of ESV Scripture Journals on sale this week in case that’s of interest.

Today’s Kindle deals include an excellent systematic theology along with some commentaries and books related to specific issues.

As Jonathan Van Maren explains, IVF is not pro-family as some are claiming. “Families are not ‘made great again’ by having unborn children created in labs, graded, discarded, or stored in freezers, and we must make this case both persuasively and emphatically.”

Trevin Wax explains why we need to be careful with the words we use to describe ourselves. If we talk about ourselves like we are machines we may begin to understand ourselves accordingly.

“It’s difficult to be published. Unless you have a large following, or catch a break, you may face an uphill battle in getting your book published. And yet, I would argue, it’s still important for you to write for at least a couple of reasons.”

Rachel draws a lesson from a grade school pencil sharpener. “Holding that little itty-bitty piece in my hand struck me with its resemblance to sin.”

Karen Corcoran: “Wilderness and wandering go together for the sake of our hearts. What might God see about the wilderness journey as good for our hearts? When life’s direction seemingly feels harder than it should, I grow increasingly aware of how unsettled I feel. It feels like wandering an aimless trek, full of uncertainties. Unresolved things are, by nature, not settled or solved.”

It is important to define “nation” because God calls us to go to the nations and make disciples within them!

Just as a tower is straight only to the degree to which it matches the builder’s perfect line, our lives are right only to the degree to which they match God’s perfect law. 

If we aren’t deliberate in developing our children’s understanding of God, then it will be developed by someone else.
—Sam Luce & Hunter Williams

The God of peace be with you today, my friends.

There is a long list of Kindle deals to browse through this morning. I recommend Don’t Follow Your Heart and Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, but there’s lots else as well.

(Yesterday on the blog: Only Ever Better)

John Piper is both amazed and dismayed as he considers AI. “Let’s use ChatGPT and other sources that are coming along for information, even for inspiration, just like you use commentaries and articles and books and songs and poetry. But don’t use it for composition unless you’re going to give credit for it.”

There are lots of really helpful insights in this article. “While the hypothesis that Jonathan and David were friends with benefits makes sense of the modern belief that unrestrained sexual expression is the highest good, it does not make sense of David’s world or of adherence to Biblical morality.”

Yes, let’s all embrace the fact that we are burdens to others and they are burdens to us.

Samuel James gives his take on why, as we age, we tend to complain more. “There is no easy version of life. There is no existential financial freedom seminar that can teach you how to put away 10% of your hopes and desires in an account that will one day mature and be available to withdraw. There is no guarantee, not from your parents or lovers and certainly not from God, that you will succeed. You may, you may not.”

Please don’t! “Preaching that truly disciples a congregation is rooted in intimacy with the biblical languages, a knowledge of the rich history of interpretation, and sound exegesis. But this combination does not make a sermon. These are the building blocks of a pastor’s sermon. They are the raw materials in the hands of a craftsman. Instead , what every congregation needs is the finished product—not the building materials.”

“Entitlement is a common parenting issue in our day. Entitled children can’t appreciate a gift. They’re anxious and angry and disappointed in their riches, because they are convinced that there is always more and better out there somewhere. That there is always someone in a more privileged position. That there is always a better present under the tree with another person’s name on it. So instead of enjoying all that they have and being grateful for it, they can only focus on what they don’t have, and fix blame onto the one they think is withholding it from them.”

…grumbling and disputing are not merely actions but evidences of a disposition. They are not just words of our mouths but attitudes of our hearts. They do not simply reflect something we do but broadcast something we are.

Repentance is not a discrete external act; it is the turning round of the whole life in faith in Christ.
—Sinclair Ferguson

This week the blog is sponsored by The Good Book Company, publisher of The Art of Disagreeing by Gavin Ortlund. In this positive and practical book, Gavin Ortlund looks to the Scriptures to discover a way to disagree with courage and kindness. You can purchase The Art of Disagreeing here.

There is a theory in social psychology about two contrasting ways in which people deal with disagreement. Essentially, about half of human beings act like rhinoceroses: the other half, like hedgehogs. Rhinos are aggressive, charging when threatened. Hedgehogs are more defensive, using their prickles as a shield. One book puts it like this:

“Just as animals respond differently to attack, so people react differently when hurt and angry. There are two major patterns of behaviour, and … it would appear that the population is split roughly fifty-fifty. Half of the population are like the rhino: when they

are angry, they let you know it. The other half of the population are like the hedgehog: when they feel angry, they hide their feelings.”

Whether you adopt this exact framework or not, it draws attention to an important fact: when it comes to challenging conversations or relationships, we all have different temptations. So disagreement will challenge all of us in different ways.

The truth is that we all have some work to do. Healthy disagreement will draw all of us beyond our natural strengths. It will require stretching into new (often uncomfortable) territory.Share

If you are a rhino, healthy disagreement will be difficult because it requires more restraint than you would naturally be inclined to show. You may have moments when you feel like “charging,” and it might even feel like the right thing to do—but you actually need to tap the brakes. (Often we realize this only afterwards, once the temperature has cooled!)

But if you’re a hedgehog, healthy disagreement will be difficult because it requires more boldness than you would naturally be inclined to show. You may have moments when you feel like hiding, but you actually need to embrace the vulnerability of leaning forward into the disagreement. Where you would normally pull back, you have to speak up. This can be scary! It rubs against our natural preference for harmonious relationships.

To make matters worse, hedgehogs and rhinos will often be tempted to look down on each other while ignoring their own weakness. The opposing flaws will be obvious to us, while our own will seem small or invisible. A rhino might look at a hedgehog and say, “Why doesn’t he speak up more? I know he agrees, but he lacks the courage to say so!” Conversely, a hedgehog might look at a rhino and say, “Why is she so argumentative? She turns everything into a fight!” Both might be (partly) right. This is one way that outrage about disagreement can contribute to further disagreement and outrage, without us realizing it.

The truth is that we all have some work to do. Healthy disagreement will draw all of us beyond our natural strengths. It will require stretching into new (often uncomfortable) territory.

For this reason, the ability to engage in healthy disagreement is a good general test of maturity. If you want to see how much self-awareness someone has, just watch how they respond to a good old-fashioned disagreement.

I’m sure you’ve had the same kind of experience I’ve had—the experience of bumping into someone you haven’t seen for many years. Maybe it is at a conference, maybe at a wedding, or maybe through pure serendipity. Yet now you’re face to face and you realize that even while you’re enjoying a conversation with that other person you’re also having a separate conversation within yourself.

In the first conversation, you’re recounting what has happened in the intervening years, telling of trials and triumphs and everything in between. Meanwhile, in the second and silent conversation you’re thinking to yourself, “Wow, he looks old! He has a lot less hair than I remember and a lot more of it is gray.” And it isn’t long before you find yourself wondering, “Wait, is he thinking the same about me? Do I look as old as he does?” And frankly, he probably is and you probably do.

When we part ways with friends and then encounter them again ten or twelve years on, we can’t help but think how different they look. And almost invariably the years and decades have not been particularly kind. Time changes our outward appearance and I hope you will not be offended when I say that it is rarely for the better. Beauty, like physical strength, peaks relatively early in life and then begins a long decline. Thankfully, beauty matters far less than wisdom and character which peak late and never go into decline. Hence it is far better to value inner beauty than outer, to value the “hidden person of the heart” and the kind of imperishable beauty that is precious to God and to those who love him (1 Peter 3:4).

When we pause to think about life on this earth it is no wonder that our physical appearance changes over time. We face illnesses that sap our strength and injuries that never fully heal. Mother’s bodies are scarred by bearing children and strained by nursing them while father’s bodies are stressed by putting in long hours to provide for their families. We suffer physical consequences related to mental disorders and spiritual attacks. We get worn down and worn out by failures, grief, and losses. The more we age, the more the inner workings of our bodies begin to fail and interrupt everything from communication to cognition to digestion. We all eventually realize that Ecclesiastes 12 is not just the Preacher’s biography, but ours as well. Vanity of vanities.

We all eventually realize that Ecclesiastes 12 is not just the Preacher’s biography, but ours as well.Share

So what a joy it is, then, to consider that when our time here has come to an end and we go to be with the Lord, we will see our loved ones not as they were but as they are and as they forever will be. Despite a gap of time that may be decades, they will have improved instead of declined. The weight of cares will have been lifted from their shoulders, the hollow-eyed sorrow of loss will have been removed from their countenance. The one who limped will now stride with confidence, the one whose vision had faded will now look you straight in the eye, the one who could not hear will now listen gladly and attentively. Weakness of mind will have given way to strength, frailty of body will have been replaced by fortitude. All will be well. All will be better than we have ever known or even imagined.

If there are two tracks playing in our minds in the day we are reunited with old friends and beloved family, surely the first will be rejoicing aloud in God’s mighty acts of deliverance and rejoicing in the love of the Son. And surely the second, perhaps still unspoken, will be marveling that their new inner perfection has been matched by outer perfection. We will marvel at how escaping time and all its ravages has improved them and how it has changed them—changed into the people God meant for them to be all along.