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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 21:1-6a)
The New Testament is an incredible collection of books. From the four gospels, to the Pauline letters, the other epistles, to the closing book which is literally named "an uncovering." John the writer had an experience while imprisoned on an island on a Sunday. When normally as a free man he would have been in church, this day found him alone when he received a visit and an awesome gift - a trip into what was to come and to see what already exists in the realms of glory. John saw and wrote about many things, but the most telling is what will be and what will not be. The very first verse of this passage tells of a new heaven and a new earth, because the old ones were no more; and if you remember a few weeks ago the importance of the sea being gone too, was shared with him. John saw the holy city, Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God, adorned as a bride ready for marriage. And John heard the promises that are for us: "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." Here on earth right now, God dwells with those who invite Him. In heaven, God invites us to live with Him and we will be in God's dwelling place as God's people. Hear the part that speaks to so many, especially during a remembrance of those who have died; every tear will be wiped away from our faces by God. There will no longer be death! Those things that naturally accompany death here, mourning, crying, pain - gone! All of the earthly things gone. Then the Lord Jesus, seated on His throne will declare, "See, I am making all things new." John was instructed to write these things, and he also heard Jesus say, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."
The beautiful hymn, "This is a Day of New Beginnings," speaks to this truth: "This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone...Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do, This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new." The sorrows and pains of yesterday that may have brought tears to us, and sometimes still do, will one day be completely gone, replaced by the newness of that life that Jesus promised to those who believe. It is a life that sadly, we can't fully comprehend for our minds are still finite minds struggling against the eternal, but that day is coming when we will see clearly and understand fully, the awesome love of God for us.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak eternity to our minds and hearts. Help us to fully grasp the love You have for us that knows no bounds nor limits. Guide us to a day richly blessed with the joy of things to come in You. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen!
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
