Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and 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. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer because the previous things have passed away.
Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The victor will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:1-7
My words…
God, You measure the boundaries of the universe using the span of your arm. You hold the keys to the storehouses of hail. You call to the lightning bolts, and they report for duty. You can loosen the belt of Orion. You, who can do this and immeasurably more, poured out a revelation to the exiled Apostle John, blessing me with a mindful of imagery beyond the scope of my limited understanding. But I can’t help but grow excited when I read about a time when I will be living with You in a place that sounds a whole lot different from Earth – a place where everything is new. I like new things – things that I have never seen, never touched – things that have never been used by anyone else. Things “with the tags still on.” It matters not to me where this place is located – above the clouds, on the earth, or somewhere in between. It matters not to me what this place is called – Paradise, Heaven, or new Jerusalem. Just as long as You are there, then it’s all good. This new place could be a depressing hovel in the middle of a barren wasteland, but as long as You are there, then it’s all good. I’m thankful, though, that you intend for it to be a place where pain, grief, and weeping are checked at the door. Every face will be genuinely joy-filled. Help me imagine! I search out the innocent, unjaded images expressed by children. They have imaginations that more accurately capture this new, amazing place. One little boy wants to play tether-ball with angels (that’s new). A little girl wants to dance with You (can’t wait to see that). And another little boy wants to watch You, Jesus, ride a rainbow horse (definitely new)! The thought of living together with You someday in Your new place chases away every despondent, fretful, incensed thought from my heart, and the empty place is filled with anticipation and wonder. You are wondrous!
Prayer for me
I want to keep this image of a new place with You at the forefront of my mind each day. No other image can blast away weariness, pessimism, and failure faster than one of You and me being together in a place where the daunting presence of death is absent. No cemeteries, dirges, or eulogies. Just life with You.
Forgive me
When the immorality of this world beats against the walls of my heart, drowning out Your Spirit’s message of hope, I open the door and let it in. Forgive me when I allow the Father of Lies a toe-hold in a place reserved for You alone.
Prayer for others
I pray for those who long to see this place where You will live with Your children. So many face grief each day, so many face painful medical treatments, and so many have become numb to the abuse they call normal. Give them a sense of what it may feel like when You, the God of all that has been created, will wipe away each tear from their eyes.
Thanksgiving
The amazing part about the anticipation of living with You is that it is not one-sided. I know that You are just as excited about sharing Your place with me as I am about living there with You. Incredible! Absolutely incredible! Once again, there is no earthly way for me to adequately thank you for including me in your everlasting life plan. Maybe there will be a heavenly way. I hope so.
More praise
You desire for all of Your children to live with You in a new place where perfect joy stands at the door and bars the way of heartbreak, anxiety, and mourning. You will not allow them to dwell with us there. Our place together will be filled with Your love, Your light, Your presence. And that’s all I need. But if, by chance, Jesus decides to ride a rainbow horse, save a seat for me.
