December 31 - Emily Legg
Revelation 21:1-6
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. 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.” 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.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”
A new heaven and a new earth. A Holy City, coming from the sky. No death or pain? All of this sounds absolutely amazing, so why is Revelation rarely talked about? A lot of times during this season, we think of baby Jesus in the manger, fulfilling God taking on flesh. We all know the story - Mary is told she will have a baby, Joseph was too stunned to speak, no room in the inn, boom Jesus is in the barn. Jesus lives His whole life perfectly, and then even more flawlessly resurrects after being crucified. AFTER THAT, He says He will return. Revelation is telling us just of this occurrence. He tells us to write all of it down, that He is above it all. Revelation is supposed to invoke a hopeful tone, that God is going to make all things new for us on the return of Christ. The Scripture God gives us is so powerful, and we should be analyzing it, to push ourselves further into His loving embrace. We are made new through Him, and that is such a great gift from God. He makes beautiful things out of us here on earth, and we give Him the Glory.
God, thank you for what you have shown us, what we can look forward to in the days to come. Pour the blood of Jesus over us as we await the return, trusting you will allow the Holy Spirit to move through us, beyond us, and, if needed, in spite of us. Lord, we give thanks to you for what you have done, are doing, and will do here and as in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.