Daily Strength - When bereaved

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, 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.”

This world is not all that there is, and the way things are now, is not the way things are always going to be. Revelation is the very last book in the Bible and it ends the story of God’s Word by encouraging us all to lift our eyes to a far horizon, and to live today looking forward to a day that is yet to come.

In our reading for today, John (who was an old man when he wrote down the material in Revelation) is given a glimpse of something that will be real, and true and yet for now is almost beyond our imaging.

One day God is going to down to this earth. He is going to make His dwelling among ‘His people’ (those who have trusted in Him and in His Son Jesus). On that day He will make ‘everything new’. The ‘new creation’ will be so different from all that we see around us in the world today. There will be no more ‘death or mourning or crying or pain’ – all these old things will have passed way. 

How are you finding life in this ‘old creation’ today. Always remember it’s not forever. One day it will all be made new. John’s visions plants the hope of that day in our minds and hearts. A day to look forward to, a day to be ready for.

Prayer: Lord Jesus thank You for the hope of a new creation, when we will live with you. May this vision be precious especially when I feel sad or alone.