Our scripture this morning is Revelation 21:1-4.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
The vision of our eternal home given to John in Revelation is both wonderful and confusing. We can’t grasp the wonder of Heaven as humans, but inspired writers and Jesus Himself have tried to give us a glimpse. Regardless of “what it will be like”, we know that God will be with us and we will be His people.
Being together with God eternally is His promise to those who love and obey Him. We read this in scripture and see it in the example of our Lord Jesus. When we have His word in our hearts and love one another as He first loved us, we are on the path to the Holy City.
John writes “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”. The sin that we brought into the world will be gone, erased by God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice for us. If we live for Him here, we can live with Him in the place He has prepared for us.
Loving Lord, we are ashamed of the times we have failed to live as You intend, following our own desires instead of Your will for us. Bless us to be the people we were created to be, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.
