Verse of the Day 12/31

Verse of the Day 12/31

Revelation 21:4-5

New International Version

4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 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."

Today's verses came up in my year end read the New Testament plan reading.  It speaks of a new heaven and earth and the wiping awayb of no more tears, crying, death and mourning.  It points to restoration and all things new or "anew". Restoration is a common theme in the Bible. From God being the rebuilder of walls and lives in Nehemiah and Esther, the Shepherd in Psalm 23 restoring the soul and the triumphant return of Jesus to make all things new.

As we move from what has been a year filled with trials and struggles for many of us, the verses and God's Word as a whole give us hope.  Not a wishy washy hope, but one grounded in the promises of Jesus who gave His life that we might have eternal life with Him.

In his devotional today, Max Lucado writes:

Try this. Imagine a perfect world. Whatever that means to you, imagine it. Does that mean peace? Then envision absolute tranquility. Does a perfect world imply joy? Then create your highest happiness. Will a perfect world have love? Ponder a place where love has no bounds.  Whatever heaven means to you, imagine it.

Get it firmly fixed in your mind. Delight in it. Dream about it. Long for it. And then smile as the Father reminds you from the apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:9: "No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." No one. No one has come close.

Think of all the songs about heaven. All the artists' portrayals. All the lessons preached, poems written and chapters drafted. When it comes to describing heaven, we are all happy failures!

Coming from an imperfect year to be sure we look forward to a better one, but ultimately to a day when Jesus will return and make all things new.

Come Lord Jesus, come!

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Revelation 21:1-6

New International Version

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 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."

6 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 without cost from the spring of the water of life.