New Years just around the corner… People celebrate leaving the past year with its challenges and difficulties behind and look forward to a NEW YEAR – new opportunities, new relationships, new successes! They party hard and they try to forget the past! High expectations are rampant!
But I must say I read a passage from the Bible this morning – the day before New Year’s Eve celebrations – that would leave the hopes of an earthly New Year like a crumpled-up piece of waste-paper thrown in the trash with disgust because of the heavenly declaration of hope and certainty! You want to talk about “NEW” – you want to be hopeful about the future – here it is! And the best part is, it’s guaranteed for ALL WHO EMBRACE GOD’S WAY FOR THEIR LIVES AND FUTURE AND LIVE TO HONOR HIM!!!
‘Then I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, 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 away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because THE PREVIOUS THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY! Then the One seated on the throne said, “LOOK! I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!” He also said, “Write, because THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE!” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The overcomer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be My sons and daughters.” (From Revelation 21:1–7)
And that’s not all… Read the rest of the passage – from chapter 21:9 – 22:5 – if you want a good reason to celebrate the future for God’s people! … A “New Jerusalem” – capital city of Heaven, a new and glorious situation for all who abide there! New! New!! NEW!! ALL THINGS NEW AND GLORIOUS… FOREVER!!! You talk about a reason to celebrate with HOPE (Not “hope so” for God’s people – expectant certainty)! You should read it, reflect on it, and REJOICE!!! I did!
Coffee With The Lord 