IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
The book of Revelation shows us that there will be a lot of changes taking place in the future. But the changes are good ones.
John saw a new heaven and new earth because the first earth had passed away. I believe in being a good manager of the resources we have available to us in our present earth. But there comes a point where saving the earth will not happen, despite the best efforts of man. What did catch me by surprise is that in the new earth there will be no more sea. I can’t say I am disappointed because I have never experienced an earth where the curse was not present. We live in a fallen world, and the destructive storms and forces that cause us so many problems are not going to be a part of the new heavens and earth. But I have always loved the beach. I just have to accept that whatever God does in the new earth will be far superior to what we have now, and I will not be missing the beach.
And there will be a new holy city, a New Jerusalem. Once again, if God is making everything new, we have to believe it will be something to see. John gives more details of the New Jerusalem, and they are amazing. Gold, like clear glass. Precious stones all over the place. I don’t think anyone is going to be longing for the Old Jerusalem.
And it keeps getting better in regard to the atmosphere. God’s tabernacle is with men, and He will be with them and dwell with them. I am thinking God’s tangible presence will pervade the very atmosphere of this new earth. And of all the things we can hope for, having God in the middle of us will mean more than all the gold and precious stones. The presence of God is what makes all things better, and God will be active with His people.
It will be God who wipes away every tear. With all the judgments and battles and death, there may be occasion for sadness and tears, but God will make it all go away. All better. I am reminded of when my mother would put Bactine on my scraped knees and arms. She would blow on the wounds in order to soothe them. My mom was trying to make things better. In our passage for today, it will be God who soothes our pain and wipes away our tears. If anyone can make us forget the past and the sorrow, it will be Him.
And sorrow and death and crying and pain will all be a thing of the past. No more. When I think of all the death we deal with down here, I rejoice to know death will be a thing of the past. I have seen too much sorrow in my role as a pastor. Too much death. Too much pain and crying. I will not miss any of the human trauma and pain that has plagued mankind. My God will make all things new.
So things will just get better and better. We have such a future to look forward to.