Jesus will return. Swiftly, unexpectedly. Any moment. His return will usher in the renewal of all things. That includes the execution of justice, rewards, the feast, your “estates,” your appointed role in his great kingdom — along with the restoration of everything you love. This has some pretty staggering implications.

For one thing, it ought to radically transform our attitude toward death.

Losing someone you love is an earthquake; it is traumatic. Because what we see is the death, what we experience is the massive sudden and ongoing loss, death is filled with tragedy and mockery. It seems to have the last word, whatever our creeds may say. We do not yet see the resurrection; we do not yet see the renewal of all things, and so we are vulnerable to massive agreements with loss and devastation, even with grief. But the moment we allow life to win, the moment we accept Jesus’ “I’m just going away for a bit,” it changes everything.

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