Thursday, December 28
The best is yet to come!
Scripture: Revelation 21
Revelation 21:1–5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. 2 And I saw the holy city—the new Jerusalem—descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more—or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.”
5 And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”
Observation
John’s vision of “heaven”—the new heaven and new earth—is beautiful and startling. Recently, Laina and I listened to Imagine Heaven by John Burke. He has studied near death experiences around the world, and told many stories of people seeing scenes like the one John describes here. The book is grounded in Scripture, not just human experience; it’s a very encouraging book.
When God said, “I am making all things new,” He meant everything. What is described is a new order of existence: no death, mourning, crying or pain. A city that is 1400 miles cubed—as high as it is wide and long! No need for sun or moon since the glory of God is the light! It’s mind boggling.
Perhaps most encouraging is the promise of God’s presence: “the residence of God is among human beings; He will live among them…God himself will be with them.” Whatever else the new creation brings, this is most important: we will experience God’s presence as they did in Eden before sin separated us.
Application
I think John’s vision was meant to encourage us—to give us courage to face life and death fearlessly and joyfully. The best is yet to come!
There is much I love about this life, and I’m enjoying it despite the pain and heartache that comes to everyone. But there is much about this life that is broken and I long to see whole. I pray every day for those who refuse to believe and follow Jesus; for people who are sick, dying, grieving; for peace and justice to come to places like Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, Myanmar; for freedom for those who are addicted and oppressed; for mercy and forgiveness for those who sin and hurt others…and the list goes on. I long for the new heaven and new earth.
Without this vision, this hope for all things to be made right, life would be dark and despairing.
So I’m grateful. And I’m living with an eternal perspective.
The best is yet to come!
Prayer: Thank you Lord for John’s vision and the reality behind it: You! Thank you for the hope of heaven that gives meaning and joy to life in this broken world. Help me live today full on for You!
More: Zechariah 11-12, John 18