The New Jerusalem
Scripture Reading — Revelation 21:1-4
“They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”
Revelation 21:3
I was a little child when my Christian grandmother told me about heaven for the first time. I didn’t know much about God or the Bible, but I was fascinated with the idea of heaven. I imagined that everyone there would enjoy an unlimited supply of bananas. Why bananas? Because they were very rare in the Soviet Union. We’d get them once or twice a year. For me, as a child, nothing could convey true heaven better than the taste of a ripe banana!
When we reflect about our eternity with the Lord, we are at a loss for words. The biblical passages describing heaven are often poetic and symbolic. Inspired by God, the biblical authors use familiar words to try to describe a place that is very unfamiliar to us.
In today’s passage the apostle John seeks to convey the beauty and security of the dwelling place for God’s children, or the New Jerusalem. This city is as beautiful as a bride at her wedding. And the best part is that in heaven God himself joins us, his people. And with love and compassion he wipes away all tears from our faces and destroys death, pain, and mourning.
Here on earth it’s not easy to imagine heaven. But we can rest assured that in his grace Christ has prepared a joyful place for those who trust him. (See John 14:1-4.)
Our heavenly Father, we look forward to one day joining you in the New Jerusalem. Help us to overcome our worries and to trust you fully in our walk of faith. Amen.
About the author — Sergei Sosedkin
Rev. Sergei Sosedkin is the Russian-language ministry leader for ReFrame Ministries. He is a native of Moscow, Russia. As he oversees the Russian-language ministry, Rev. Sosedkin works from our office in Grand Rapids and in various locations in Russia.
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