December 1
Revelation 21.1-8
1 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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 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. 4 ‘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.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Here we see the final picture of what life was always meant to be. Hearing that all things have been renewed (v. 5). Starting with the image of the new heaven and new earth. Where we reside in the new earth, but the presence of God is now fully with us. Heaven and earth taking up the same space. We are invited into this new reality.
We are invited into a new reality where the pains of life are no longer with us. Death is gone. Also we will lose the need to feel pain and shed tears of sadness. Because as we are fully in the presence of God we will also be complete in our having become the people of God. We are invited into a new reality.
And the end is not intended to bring fear. Although we see that there is a piece of that group which describes more than just a few. It is a reminder that what Paul said to us is true. Those are the things that once described us. But now we are described by the grace of God and the forgiveness of Christ. We are invited into this new reality.
Not something that is just for a few of us. It is not something that we are ashamed of (that might qualify as cowardly). It is something that has become who we are. We live as people of grace, we speak as people of grace. We have been forgiven and we are forgiving people. We invite all into this new reality into which we are already invited.
Hear the invitation to be part of a new reality that says we belong as the people of God. Speak and live the reality that all are invited to be the people of God – belonging, forgiven and loved by God.
Song – One Day
Prayer
All-powerful God, your only Son came to earth in the form of a slave and is now enthroned at your right hand, where he rules in glory. As he reigns as King in our hearts, may we rejoice in his peace, glory in his justice, and live in his love. Amen