A Spiritual Vision of the Future

Revelation ends with a beautiful picture of restoration. We discover that God’s agenda is not judgement and condemnation, but healing and restoration. Revelation promises us the victory of God and a world without sin or suffering – perfection without end.

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Revelation 21:1-5 

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You will find the Sermon Notes for today’s message here.

REFLECTION

Tomorrow's Song in our Hearts
by Elaine Pierce

When we’ve been there 10,000 years, bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less case to sing God’s grace, than when we first begun.

                                                              Amazing Grace, John Newton, 1779

What has caused you mourning, crying and pain in 2020?  For many of us, this could be a long list. We have lost friends and loved ones, whether to Covid-19 or other causes. We have lost income, and we may be facing economic ruin – savings wiped out, no end in sight. School is starting virtually, and we don’t know how we are going to cope. Racial tensions are high. Indeed, these are reasons for mourning, crying and pain.

What does it mean to you to know that “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.” (Revelation 21:4). This passage doesn’t say that “some” tears will be wiped away. It says “EVERY” tear will be wiped away. No more death. No more crying. No more pain. What does this mean for your life today?

I will admit, that, at times, heaven seems very far away. In the midst of struggle and pain, I sometimes find words of assurance to be empty  Yes, someday, this will all be over, and I will be floating on my heavenly cloud playing my harp- but what about now, Lord?  How do I get through this pain, this grief, today?

I wish I had a perfect answer to that cry of pain. I do know that we have a perfect savior, who died for our sins, who will come again, and who offers eternal life to all who believe. I know that he suffered greatly on the cross for our sins – a man who was sinless took on the sins of the world – my sins.

And he gave John this vision of a new heaven and a new earth – the new Jerusalem. John wrote these words while in exile, on the lonely island of Patmos. He was certainly not surrounded by ‘a new heaven and earth.’  His life was not one of luxury and ease. And yet, God gave him hope and joy in the midst of persecution.

Yes, we will have hardship. We will have sorrow. We will mourn. We will have pain. But there is joy in knowing with certainty that God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and the old order will pass away. Heaven is indescribable, but it is real, and it will last forever. Thanks be to God!

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SUNDAY

SCRIPTURES - Pray the Scriptures. Some examples are Psalm 91:1-15 / Psalm 121:5-8 / John 14:27 / Philippians 4:6-7 / 2 Timothy 1:7