(The following is the December 28 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Revelation 21 and pay close attention to verses 1-8.)
Do you wonder what Heaven will be like? We’ll have to wait to find out many details. When we do, the experience will be infinitely more astonishing than we imagined. Although we have unanswered questions about certain aspects of Heaven, the primary reality and all that ultimately matters is that we will be in the presence of God. That is enough. We don’t need to know little details about our surroundings, where we’ll live, what we’ll eat, how we’ll spend each moment, etc. We’ll finally be in the presence of the One who created and redeemed us, and we will overflow with joy.
John describes the new creation: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride 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 peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (vv. 1-4).
Believers currently have a down payment of the Holy Spirit living inside us. We haven’t yet seen Christ’s face. “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12). When pondering Heaven, let us focus most on the beauty of Christ and the joy of seeing him face to face. His presence is our greatest reward.
Next Step:
Use the following link to watch the music video “I Can Only Imagine” by the Christian musical group MercyMe: http://youtu.be/N_lrrq_opng.
Praise God and give him glory.
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