REVELATION 21:1-5 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE CELESTIAL CITY. The 17th century tinker turned preacher, John Bunyan, penned a Christian classic while imprisoned in Bedford jail in England. The title was The Pilgrim’s Progress published in 1678. If you have not read it, please do. And if it applies, read it to your children or grandchildren. It is a riveting allegory of the Christian life. The main character in part 1 is named “Christian” who has been awakened to his sin, eternal state and leaves the City of Destruction for the Celestial City with the goal to get the burden of sin off his back. The title itself defines the Christian life; strangers in a strange land heading to the place of eternal bliss. And the place of eternal bliss is defined in today’s scripture – the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.
If we are to run the difficult race called the Christian life, then we, like Christian, must be focused on the Celestial City. As life unfolds with pain, tears, crying, death, and mourning, we need to look beyond the immediate to the eternal; the place where there is no more mourning, crying, and pain. It is gone. Forever removed by the God of all grace. But as we set our affections on things above, let’s not forget Who is waiting there for us (Colossians 3:1-4).
The Apostle John writes. Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Here are two staggering and praise-generating truths; God is not ashamed to dwell with us, He longs for our presence, and God enables us to call Him “our God”!
Yes, heaven is going to be a glorious place. All suffering will be gone, but what really makes heaven, heaven, is who is waiting for us. Think often on that day we exchange our faith for sight. It will make our “Pilgrim’s Progress” a journey of joy!
PRAYER: “Father, I long to be with You in the land of no more suffering and pure love.”
QUOTE: “Think much on heaven but think more who we will meet and be with in heaven.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim