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 LAND OF PERFECTION. What is the first thought coming to our minds with the mention of the word heaven? Is it seeing Jesus? Being with loved ones who have died before us? No more sin? The absence of the things listed in today’s scripture? Changing faith in the Lord for sight of the Lord? The 19th century Bishop J. C. Ryle emphasized this truth of seeing Jesus when we enter heaven.
“The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will see his Master face-to-face and go out no more. He longs to have done with sinning and repenting, and believing, and to begin that endless life when he shall see as he has been seen, and sin no more. He has found it sweet to live by faith, and he feels it will be sweeter still to live by sight. He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ, and talk of Christ, and read of Christ. How much more pleasant will it be to see Christ with his own eyes, and never to leave Him anymore!”
Yes, our greatest experience ever known will be seeing Jesus face-to-face and exchanging faith for sight followed with an eternity to drink deeply from the always satisfying well of His unchanging love. However, I want us to think about three other amazing blessings of heaven. I am sure there are more. These three are what we experience now only in part, and actually quite rare because of the sin that still hounds us, as well as an accusing devil who distracts us. All three of these are to be intense longings from our hearts now that slowly but surely draw us closer and closer to their fullest realities in heaven.
First, heaven is going to be the place of perfect worship (Revelation 4 and 5). No more emotional, physical, and spiritual distractions on our Lord’s Day. The spiritual war we must fight every Sunday will be over. Perfect worship in spirit and truth will be ours!
Next, heaven is going to be the place of perfect fellowship (Revelation 4 and 5). No more strife and disunity among Christians. No more seeing churches fractured over preferences and partiality. Perfect relationships with other believers without us hurting and sinning against one another and bringing blemish upon Christ’s Bride.
Finally, heaven is going to be the place of perfect service for the Lord (Revelation 4 and 5). Heaven isn’t going to be one eternal church service. We are going to enjoy serving the Lord with pure motives, never growing weary, and no spirit of envy or competition with other believers.
So much more is to be said of heaven. Spend time meditating on being there. The more we put our hearts and minds in heaven and the Lord Jesus, the more earthly good we will do for Him while we are still here.
PRAYER: Father, help me to keep my heart anchored in heaven so that I might be of the greatest earthly good.
REFLECTION: Let the perfections of heaven intensify our desires to be close to the One who gave us heaven.