[When available, audio recordings of these devotions are posted at http://www.redeemerclc.info/audio-devotions]
Monday, July 11, 2016
Revelation 21:1-6 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS!
Did you open your eyes this morning thinking, "This is going to be one great day! I'm going to accomplish everything on my to-do list and still have plenty of time to relax and have fun with friends. I can hardly wait to get started!"
Maybe not. In fact the older you are, the more likely you are not to think this way. And why? What gets in the way of such positive thinking? Many would say, "Reality." We learn from experience that things don't always go the way we would like them to. Plans fall through. Ideas prove to be misguided. Unforeseen circumstances get in the way.
But when you get bogged down with pessimism, listen again to what the apostle Paul has to say. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Humanly speaking, Paul's "reality" was nothing to celebrate. His work as Christ's ambassador put him constantly in harm's way. Years of hardships took their toll on his body. Many wanted him dead. Still, none of that dimmed his optimism. Why should it? His sins had been paid for. He was a child of God. The Lord was always beside him to ensure that all things worked for his eternal blessing.
We can live with the same confidence. Our status as children of God is certain. Our sins have been washed away in the water of baptism. Christ's righteousness is ours by faith. God encourages: "So do not fear, for I am with you...I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
Then why shouldn't this be a great day? The Lord who adopted us into His family has given us another day of grace to use in following and serving Him and living in love toward all those around us. Expect great things. You won't be disappointed.
The words of Revelation 21:1-6 lead us not only to anticipate great blessings here, but to look forward to "new" things to come in the heavenly home Jesus has prepared for His Church.
