There will be a day when God’s people will finally have their rest from the sorrows and pains of this life. Every person in Christ knows how difficult this life can be. Chronic illness is terrible to deal with day in and day out, losing people we love is hard, persecutions are often times very difficult, and many other things in life bring us grief and pain. However, we know that with God, “thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” (Isaiah 25:4) And after death comes a time of rejoicing, for we will be with the Lord God forever. In this place, even in the new heaven and new earth, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest.” (Isaiah 25:8-10) Wow! Praise God! What a joyous day is ahead of all of us who believe in and follow Jesus. Our salvation is secure, for we are washed and made clean through the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross. Because He rose from the dead, we will also rise and be with Him in heaven.
John also wrote and said, “and I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:1-7) This is the greatest promise we can receive from the Lord God. Though we won’t experience such joy until death, we can now put our trust in the one true God who saves. Even until death do we continue in the faith and will not back down for anything the world offers. Jesus is the only way to eternal life and no matter what the world does to us, our strength comes from the Lord, and we long to be with Him come death. This will be a joyous time to be with our King.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I long to be with You. Even to be with You in heaven forever. I know that this time on earth is short and soon I will leave this body and return to my Maker in heaven. What a time this will be. Lord, there are days that are very hard, but still, You give me the strength to carry on. I’ve lost many friends over the years, but I have never lost Your love in my life. People have deserted me and stopped answering my phone calls, but You have never stopped answering my prayers. There may be few people who wish to join in with me in ministry, but I know that Your multitude of angels are ever with me. I am not alone, for the Holy Spirit is leading me daily on Your righteous path. You have taken hold of my life and made me new. What a day it was and still is to be born again. I wouldn’t trade the place I am now with You for anything else. Thank You, Jesus, for saving a wretch like me. If I have sinned against You this day, please forgive me. Lead me far away from temptation. Your path is what I desire to be on now and for the rest of my days. Keep my eyes fastened upon Your perfect will, that I may never stray from Your desires in my life again. It is my will to never forsake You and to lead my family in the ways that are righteous also. May my daughters and my wife see You in me and rejoice in God, my Savior. Help me to be Your witness and to lead the lost to know You. I know that I can only plant seeds and You are able to water them. I believe in You, Jesus. I can’t wait to be with You, one day, on this new earth and new heaven. I love You! Amen.
