Revelation 20:7-21:8
This
is My Granddaughter, Everely. She’s four years old – 4 ½ according to her. This
past Sunday at church when Everly walked into the building she spotted me at
the end of the hallway, and she ran the length of the hall giving me a huge
bear hug. That brought unbelievable joy to my heart and purpose to my life. What
brings joy and purpose to your life?
In
Revelation, John wrote about his vision. Like the title of the 1966 Clint
Eastwood movie, “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly”, it included all of those elements.
John begins with the defeat of Satan; moves onto the final judgement; and
finishes with the vision of a new heaven and a new earth.
Both
good and evil exist in our world today. In fact, if we are honest with
ourselves, both good and evil exist in us. In a world conflicted by this, John’s
vision brings us great hope, joy and purpose.
“Look! God now makes his
home with the people. He will live with them. They will be his people. And God
himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe away
every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death.’ And there will be no
more sadness. There will be no more crying or pain. Things are no longer the
way they used to be.”
Today’s passage tells us that in the midst of judgement, evil,
temptation, pain and suffering, injustice, hate and anger, immorality… there is
hope. Not only the hope of the next life of a new earth and a new heaven; but
hope for here and now. Hope for how we live today; hope for the struggles of
life. There is hope with joy and purpose.
It’s
kind of amazing how much joy and purpose my 4 ½ year old granddaughter brought
into my life in that one single moment without even trying. How much more joy
and purpose does our Heavenly Father, the God of creation, the Living God, give
us with the promises of His Word. Now that is amazing!
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