(In Remembrance of 9/11. Originally sent on October 1, 2001.)

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. - Revelation 21:4.

It is clear from this verse that there will be death, sorrow, crying, and pain, even for Christians, while on this earth. There is more than enough to go around. New York City, Washington D.C., Pennslyvania,  and Afghanistan are the most recent names, which symbolize the pain of human agony. (Since 2001, many additional names of locations have been added. Names like Iraq, England, Spain, Indonesia, Lebanon, Israel, Syria and there are many more.)

It has been said there are no atheists in a foxhole. I have not heard any atheists testify to their unbelief since this tragedy and how their unbelief helped them make it through it.  I have heard survivor after survivor tell of how they prayed and how God protected them and helped them. Yes, some Christians died, some Christians were injured, and some Christians lost material possessions. But, as Christians, we have a peace which is beyond understanding, a joy that is unspeakable, and a hope that good will come from the bad.  

The unbeliever only has more of the same and worse, to look forward to after death. The Christian has hope, the unbeliever has nothing. For the Christian, death will bring a New World. In this New World, the "former things” will "have passed away.” God will wipe away our tears and "there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain.”