Looking Ahead to the Ending
Scripture Reading — Revelation 21:1-7
"THE DWELLING OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL LIVE WITH THEM ... AND BE THEIR GOD." REVELATION 21:3
We began this month by going back to the beginning, in Genesis; now let's look ahead to the ending, in Revelation. In our reading today we see that the God who connected with us in the Garden of Eden will live with us again in the new heaven and earth. And in the meantime we have "God with us" through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:20-23; Romans 8:12-17; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
Do you see the common thread? The Bible tells about the God who made people in order to have relationship with them. God looks for us and wants us to reach out to him. He sent his Son to die so that we could get back to living the way God intended. And God will remake the heavens and earth and come to live with us again.
While we live in this "in-between" time, God wants us to be near to him and to deal with the sin that separates us. If we belong to God in Jesus, we won't wait for heaven; we'll pursue fellowship with God now.
Wherever I may be on my faith journey, this is God's will for me. And if God wills it, he can empower it. "May God himself ... sanctify you ... May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it... The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 28).
Lord, I pray that you will sanctify me through and through, and that you will do what needs to be done in me. Lead me in the way everlasting, I pray. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
About the author — Henry Kranenburg
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