All Better
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Yesterday, we went to pick up the cremated ashes of our dog Stanley. As we walked into the vet, my son asked “Is Stanley all better, mom?” I answered quickly “No. Stanley is in Heaven now hun, he’s not coming home.” We ran inside, collected our special cargo, and headed off to our next errand.
As I began yet another crying session, I realized that the words I had just spoke to my son were completely out of line. No, not the part about dogs being in Heaven (which is up for debate at another time and place). The part I got wrong was telling my son that being “all better” and being in Heaven were two separate ideas, matters, and occurrences, with neither one bearing any relation or causality.
In reality, Heaven is the ultimate “all better.” Even the best of the better on Earth doesn’t come close to the better in Heaven. Why would my mind automatically separate being healed to being in Heaven? I realized that many of us focus so much on our condition here on Earth, that we forget about the completely restored condition we get in Heaven. We search endlessly for treatments and healing in this natural life, and we forget to search God’s Word for instructions on how to get to the only guaranteed place of healing. We emphasize exercise, eating, disciplined schedules, and ironing out the details of our lives, but we neglect to check if our hearts and minds are in line with what God requires.
We hear over and over again in church, self-help books, media, and even in everyday conversations that we are semi-miserable people who just need more faith (speak it into reality!) and different viewpoints or mindsets in order to live happy, healthy, prosperous lives. So what about people who fight depression or bipolar disorder their entire lives? Where does that leave those with ALS or autoimmune diseases or cancer? And what does this mean for the millions of people living in poverty?
Now, before I move on, let me just insert this disclaimer: Do I believe that God wants us to be healthy and prosperous? ABSOLUTELY. Do I believe He can provide those things for us? Of course. But there’s more to our lives than what we as a society have boiled it down to. Life isn’t easy. Not every affliction will be healed, not every person will be rich, and not everyone will be happy all of the time. And it is precisely because of that, that we need to shift our vision from earthly “all better” to heavenly “all better.”
We have a choice in how we spend our time and energy in this life. But, when compared to eternity, the 80-100 years we have on earth is nothing but a blink of an eye. Physical pain, heartache and loss, financial troubles, and all sorts of trials shorten the distance of our vision. It sometimes takes all of our beings to move forward when we can’t see what’s ahead. That’s when we can rely on hope to become our lenses.
The hope we hold onto is the promise of living eternal life with our Father. We esteem God in such a way that we know He is fully capable of healing, blessing, and blowing our minds here on Earth. But we respect His sovereignty in accepting that our “all better” may just be meant for Heaven, not here. Our joy and peace does not come from physical health or material blessings (it really could make it a little easier, though). It comes from the strength, grace, and mercy that God gives us daily to navigate through the ups and downs of life.
Your “all better” is coming. It could be tomorrow or 30 years from now. You could receive it here on Earth, or in Heaven. Be prepared either way.