Revelation 21:3 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...
This week I finished A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place, a Beth Moore Bible study on the Tabernacle. I can’t even begin to tell you how transformative this stuy has been in my life; it’s been amazing.
The last lesson concluded with God dwelling among the people during His Mellennial reign. Beth described Jerusalem: the city, the gates, etc. She suggested that maybe God didn’t tell us more about what would be included in the new heavens and the new earth because we wouldn’t be able to even imagine it! He did, however, leave us with what will not be there. (verse 4)
There will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying and no more pain.
If we were to write this list we probably would've written it in the opposite order so it would build for impact…no more pain, no more crying, no more mourning, and no more death. Wow, that’s going to be good, isn’t it.
But Scripture doesn’t record it like that. Instead it’s as if God is saying, “There will be no more death. (Amen!) But not only will there be no more death, there will not even be mourning. No only will there be no more death and mourning, there will not even be crying. Not only will there be no more death, mourning or crying, there will not even be pain!
Can you imagine that? The old order of things will have passed away. The weight of sin, the sadness of this life, the heartache – it will all be gone. Just take a moment and let that sink in.
He continues, “I am making everything new!” We won’t recognize this new order, we haven’t lived outside of sin and pain. How exciting it will be – how joyous, how light. We will bow and be thankful for all He has done.
He assures us that these words are trustworthy and true. Does it seem too good to be true? Don’t doubt that it’s coming! You can believe it.
The next verse, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.” In essence, He's saying, "I started this story, I’ve been in control the whole way through and I will see it to the end and the end is going to be good!”
Whatever you are struggling with right now I hope you’ll rejoice that you are not alone in it and that this too shall pass. Someday we won’t live in a world that is an enemy to us. Someday we won’t have a sin nature that we'll have to continually put to death. He will make all things new and it will be finished! Praise the Lord!
2 comments:
If it weren't that I know so many people who aren't ready, then I'd say I'm ready to go to that New Jerusalem NOW!!!! :)
I'm just so tired of all the ugly things in this world and the pressures of it - and just the sad things we mourn over all the time (watch the news for a few minutes ... ugh).
BUt thankful God is in control even on this ugly, sinful world and extends His grace to us silly people with a kindness that realizes we are but dust. But we are His dust!! :) Created by Him and for Him! :) Makes life more bearable.
good mesg. that I forget too often. I just wrote a post today about being weary of heart, and I must remember that this life is temporary. Our lives are very short compared to eternity.
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