The real world that is to come

“Cowboys don’t cry, and heroes don’t die. Good always wins, again and again. And love is a sweet dream, that always comes true. Oh, if life were like the movies, I’d never be blue.” This is the nostalgic first verse of “Here in the Real World,” the top-ten hit performed and co-written in the early 90’s by Alan Jackson. As is customary for classic country, between this opening line and the tear-jerking chorus, there is a slow draw with a sullen sounding steel guitar playing in the background. This melancholy melody is intended to help the audience feel the tension of the lyrics poured out by the heavyhearted performer. So, for any of you uncultured folks who may not be fully familiar (as one ought be) with the sweet harmonies of Alan Jackson, here is the chorus: “But here in the real world, it’s not that easy at all. ‘Cause when hearts get broken, it’s real tears that fall. And darling it’s sad but true, but the one thing I’ve learned from you, is how the boy don’t always get the girl, here in the real world.”

As opposed to some of the nonsense that fills the radio waves today, I like songs that tell a story. This familiar favorite is one of those. The point of the song is this, there is often a sharp contrast to the happy endings of movies on the big screen (especially in years gone by) and that of real life. For example, just before the final credits rolled, the legendary giant, John Wayne, always rode off into the sunset having beaten the bad guys and righted all wrongs. The Lone Ranger and his trusty sidekick, Tonto, often endured vicious beatings and countless gun shots, but before the end of the show, they always managed to vanquish the villains and rescue every damsel in distress. Further still, the happy couple in the film who struggled against famine, poverty and ruthless enemies, invariably lived happily ever after.

But as Jackson reminds us, life in the real world is often far, far different than that. Here in the real world, and not the scripted fairytale stories of a movie set, the guys in white cowboy hats don’t always win. That which is good and right and just doesn’t always prevail on a world cursed by sin. Here in the real world, marriages fail and people we admire disappoint us. And no matter how much we love them, moms die, dads die, loved ones die, and when they do … it’s real tears that fall. Not the rehearsed fabricated cries of an overly paid actor or actress. The Grammy winning artist Jackson is right, if life were like many of the classic movies on the silver screen, we’d never be blue. But it isn’t. Here in the real world, we face real problems and have to endure real pain. We experience real hurt. Death, with all its ugliness comes and steals away family and friends long before we are ready to say goodbye.

Quite unashamedly I confess, on this Mother’s Day weekend, I am missing my momma. Life here in the real world sure is hard sometimes. It’s been just a little over six weeks since mom graduated to Glory. Many of you reading this article know all too well the pain I am feeling. Or, perhaps a similar struggle over the death of another dear loved one. Yet, through the heartache, those who know Christ and the power of His resurrection relentlessly cling to the unbreakable promises of God. You see, the Christian need not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13), Rather by God’s grace, the believer knows there is life after death. Or, as Jesus oft said, there is a world that is yet to come. Yes, now we live in this present evil world, but this world is earthly and temporal. There is another world that exists beyond the stars and it is heavenly and eternal. As far away as it may seem, that world is just as sure, certain and tangible as the world on which we now live.

My mother is not lying in some cold, dark hole in the ground. Yes, it is true, her body is resting in a graveyard on a mountaintop in the hills of Eastern Tennessee. Nevertheless, the Bible says, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Friend don’t be fooled, there is life beyond the grave. A place called heaven. A world that exists outside what mortal eyes can see and fleshly hands can feel. Because of her faith in the finished work of the Risen Messiah, my mother now lives in that very real world in the presence of God and the holy angels. There is an actual place called Heaven in which all the redeemed who sleep in Christ are now residing; alive forevermore. Further yet, the Bible refers to the future splendor of a renovated Earth, on which righteousness and peace will dwell, as God dwells with men. This is yet another prophetic promise made by the Lord who cannot lie. The assurance of eternal rest and peace is a covenant commitment which every believer is given the moment they trust in Christ, but also becomes an undeniable reality the very moment they close their eyes in death.

Regardless of what some might suggest, there is a world that exists beyond our own, and it’s not make-believe. Nor is the promise of eternal joy purchased by God’s Son some fairy-tale, or even a poorly written low-budget made-for-TV-movie. If indeed the Bible is God’s Inerrant Word, then the following is true: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:1-4). If I were to put a classic country poetic twist on these verses it would be this: In the real world that is to come; no one cries, no one dies and good always wins again and again. And love is more than a sweet dream, love is the Person of Jesus Christ sitting on the Throne! There, we will never “be blue.”

To the Christian living in this world be reminded, the world that is yet to come is far, far better than the mortal mind can comprehend for in that place, there’ll be no sorrow, no sadness and no sin!

I’d much prefer to face life (and death) believing there is a real world that is yet to come, the wonders of which far exceed the imaginations of men … and even the most talented song-writers.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommas … and to my own … whom I will see again soon there in that real world!

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