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. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:1-6a)
Death does not end all things. John saw and heard all about great, new, eternal things in this passage and throughout this last book of our scriptures. He witnessed a new heaven and a new earth, and, "The sea was no more." I have loved sharing with you the passage from Micah 7:19 where the prophet says of God, "You cast all our iniquities (sins) into the deepest part of the sea." This passage shows the finality of our sins. More importantly, John saw that God was among all people who had died in their faith and relationship with Jesus, and it is God who will declare, "Death will be no more; mourning and crying and brain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And then the declaration that all things will be made new, promised and guaranteed by the Lord Himself. At that time, Jesus will say, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."
For this we labor now; to make sure we get as many people as we can into our faith, to find hope, forgiveness, mercy, joy, and the promise of a life that never ends. The empty pews and seats we see on Sundays are those people whom we have yet to invite and bring into a loving, trusting relationship with Christ; there is still room, but there is work to be done.
Share this word with someone today.
PRAYER: Loving God, put me to work sharing the good news. This I ask in Thy name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayers for those still affected by the heavy rains and flooding, especially in parts of Houston.
