Making Everything New!

Revelation 21:1-5

Our youngest son got married last December, and watching him watch his bride walk down the aisle brought tears to my eyes.  He was thrilled to be marrying her, and she was equally excited to begin their married life together.

This passage has some amazing imagery.  The author, John, the disciple Jesus loves, compares heaven (the Holy City, the new Jerusalem), to a bride in v. 2:  'prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.'  Everyone can picture that moment - one filled with hope, longing, and new beginnings.

But John is just getting started.  In verse 3, he continues: "He heard a loud voice saying "Look!  God's dwelling place is now among the people...They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.' "  'Dwelling place' conjures up far more than simply 'house.'  It is a place of warmth, of family, of comfort - of life lived in community with those we love.  God is going to dwell with us!

And in verse 4 we hit the crescendo:  "'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."  (emphasis added)

What a picture John gives us.  No more tears.  No more death.  No more mourning.  No more crying.  No more pain.  It is too wonderful to imagine, but thrilling to anticipate that one day, this will be our reality.

Dear Bible Blast reader, take heart when you read these stirring words.   God has a new heaven and a new earth planned for us!  It will be a place of unsurpassed beauty, and we will enjoy every day in his presence!  In verse 5, he says 'I am making everything new!'  What a wedding feast awaits us!

Lord, thank you for these words of hope and promise.  I pray that today they will encourage me, even if I am experiencing mourning or pain.  I know that you will make everything new.  Amen.