Vacation in Paradise

Revelation: 21:1-4

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021%3A1-4&version=NIV;NLT;MSG

 

Vacations are a great time to get away; to relax; to decompress. Recently my wife and I returned from a week in Paradise. The Riviera Maya is the stretch of white sand beaches south of Cancun, Mexico filled with all-inclusive resorts.

 

Staying at one of these resorts is a life of luxurious living where you are pampered by staff whose only goal is to serve you. The food is gourmet; the architecture is elegant; and the setting is ideal with palm trees, a pristine beach, never-ending sunshine and crystal clear blue water.

 

But the problem with going on a vacation like this is that eventually you have to return to reality; and reality can you hit like a sledge hammer.

 

Upon our return, instead of laying in the sun with 85 degree temperatures, we bundled up with winter coats in 35 degrees. Instead of enjoying the warm summery breeze of the Caribbean, we were buffeted by North wind gusts of 60 miles per hour. Instead of taking a leisurely walk down the beach with waves gently washing over our feet, we battled the commuter traffic for 45 minutes each way. Welcome home!

 

The New Jerusalem that John writes about in these few verses sounds like Paradise. And actually… it is.

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. ² And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.            NLT

 

The new order means living in the presence of God.

 

“Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They are his people, he is their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.”            MSG

 

What sounds better to you, a temporary vacation only to return to the daily struggles of life? Or a permanent vacation in Paradise, living in the presence of our loving God? Immanuel: God with us.

 

 

 

Go! - Luke 1:1-12, 16-20

Luke 10:2-3 (NKJV)
² Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. ³ Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

This past Sunday, during our worship service, there was a time of commissioning a mission team.  This team is heading for Honduras to provide medical care to folks who seldom, if ever see a doctor.  They also bring with them a Vacation Bible School program for all the children who flock to see the "gringos".  My husband and I served on a number of these teams.  The memories of our trips to Honduras are treasured.  Every time we look at pictures of the children we remember the lives that were changed for Jesus, including ours.

This passage in Luke selected for today can be summed up in a word - GO!  Short term mission trips may seem to be too little for such a big job, but it soon becomes obvious to those who participate, that we serve a great big God and  He only needs willing hearts to work big things.

Of course, the mission field doesn't have to be in Honduras or outside our own country.  The mission field is all around us; our next door neighbor, co-worker, beautician, grocery store clerk or our best friend.  Get the point?  It is always wise to be prepared to share where ever you are.  GO! - is still the word of the day.

To read all the text for today click here.