⁴ and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.

⁵ And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true. Revelation 21:4-5 (NASV)

DIVORCE!!! What an ugly word!!! How can it happen to me??? I mean, I am a Christian! I pray and attend church. I try to live the life that Christ would want me to live. This is so embarrassing!!!

This is what was going through my mind at one of the lowest point in my life. My wife left me. I was between jobs and had no money. I was just out of the hospital. How much lower can you get? But, a very dear friend said to me, “Jim, you will see later that this is one of the best things that can happen to you.” RIGHT!!! Try again!

Then I went to help out at a Bible study. We were not studying Revelation but it was like I could not help myself. I turned to Revelation chapter 21 and the verses 4 and 5 just seemed to be standing out. Especially the words “…Behold, I make all things new.” I could not get them out of my mind. I kept turning back to that verse. “No! It is out of context. It can’t be meant for this situation.”

Well, to make a long story short… I started the new job, my health improved, done things that I never thought I would ever do, and I met someone who became my best friend and my wife. Things have not been all rosy since then, but that verse keeps popping up in my mind.

Some people say “When God closes a door he opens a window.” I say “When God closes a door he is building a whole new house!” So when things get their lowest look for the reconstruction. “…Behold, I make all things new.”

James Krauss

Published in the Lenten Devotional of Kemble Memorial United Methodist Church, Lent 2010.