A New Heaven
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.
Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they
will be my children…”
Can you imagine in your wildest dreams
what this new heaven will be like? Take every vacation
to every place you have been, every experience you have had the blessing to
share with someone, and heaven will be like that. Our worship here is just a prelude
to the great praise service in the future when we stand in God’s presence. But
sometimes when we join with others in vibrant worship, we experience an echo of
paradise on this earth.
When God wipes
our tears,
sorrow gives way to
eternal song.