Gone Forever

This is the final week of 2025. Thursday will give birth to a new year, 2026. 2025 will be gone forever. There were many things in 2025 —memories I want to hold onto: weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, family vacations, and church celebrations. 

But many things happened in 2025 that I’ll be happy to say goodbye to: funerals, hospital visits, and the many times when a pastor shares in the suffering of church members. 

I am an optimist by nature. I usually look at the bright side of life. I believe the cup is half full, not half empty. Jesus has given me hope and expectancy, and I plan to carry that hope into the new year, 2026. For those who know me personally, you know that I believe the return of Jesus is near. I live with that constant sense of expectancy regarding the soon return of Christ for the Church. 

This last week of 2025, I would like to look at 4 things that the Bible says will one day be gone forever. I find great comfort in knowing that one day, these four things will be gone forever. 

Death, Sorrow, Crying, Pain 

These four words identify the things that I would like to forever leave behind in 2025. Can you imagine what life would be like without death, sorrow, crying, and pain? For those who have placed their faith in Jesus, this is a real promise from God. 

Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT) 

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 

Could this happen in 2026? Maybe! I hope so! So, what about 2026? What do we do while we wait for these dreaded four to be gone forever? The Bible gives us some clear instructions for our time of waiting. 

I love the words of the Prophet Habakuk regarding our time of waiting. I’d like to focus on one encouraging word from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. 

The Old Testament Prophet Habakuk also knew what was coming in the future, but he also needed to wait patiently for it. 

Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT) 

This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. 

The Bible clearly reveals a time when death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone forever. We, like Habakuk, know the future, and we hold onto the promise of this future for all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. This hope is an anchor for souls as we begin a new year filled with hope and expectancy. 

The New Testament Book of Hebrews compares this blessed hope and expectancy to an anchor for our souls. 

Hebrews 6:17-19 (NLT) 

God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. 

God has given us His Word, His Promise…One day, death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be gone forever. Jesus will come and wipe that last tear away. Maybe Soon! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026! 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper