“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… the holy city… 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, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new… It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment… I will be his God and he will be my son…
“The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,.. —and there will be no night there… Nothing unclean will ever enter it,.. but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:1-7,22-27
“In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ it shall be said, ‘Children of the living God.'”
“I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, ‘You are my people.’” Hosea 1:10b; 2:23
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3
In Revelation, the promises of scripture meet the culmination of time in exquisite tension and certain hope. What will be is sure, completed in heaven not yet on earth, and the present is identified by the participles of purifying and waiting, knowing what is to come. Thus, the life marked in Christ is one replete with continual sanctification and vibrant faith and joy.
For Christians, Immanuel is with us presently and will one day be with us more fully than we can now imagine. When planning for a day, a year, a purposeful life, how does this affect and direct our mindset? What does the Spirit’s power, love, and victory mean for us now? Knowing that one day there will be no tears, regrets, frustration, nor longings unmet, what difference does unshakable hope make in present grief, discouragement, and suffering? How can it lift our heads above hard circumstances? (Psalm 3:3)
How deliberately do we hold onto future promises? Do they squelch efforts at growth by instilling complacency, or compel us to holiness? In what practical ways are we demonstrating what is to come- by obedience, Christ-likeness, hope in the face of difficulties?
What ongoing sanctification is taking place, working its way into attitude, speech, relationships, choices made for the immediate and future? Where is God calling me to new repentance, deeper trust, or fuller surrender?
Lord, certain of Your promises, help me live zealously, hopefully, and like Jesus, so You are magnified.
As the rain and snow 