A while back I was watching a movie that was rather long. The more the story went along, there were lots of ups and downs and turns and twists in the plot. Some of it was a bit sinister. I was not sure that I wanted to continue with the movie for fear of what the ending might be. So, guess what I did? I fast-forwarded to the last ten minutes to see how it ended, and it was a great ending.
Once I knew how it ended, I went back and watched the whole movie because no matter how hard some parts were, I knew how it was going to end. I knew the hard parts did not tell the final story!
As we walk in today’s world, it can make us yell, “Stop! I cannot take it anymore! The world has gone absolutely crazy!” What can we do when we feel that way? We need to open our Bibles and turn to the final two chapters of Revelation again and again. Read those chapters at least once per week. How the story ends should increase our faith to live in the moment!
Revelation brings us to the end of the story. It pictures the new Jerusalem coming from heaven, where God dwells. We are told, it doesn’t need the sun and the moon anymore, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. There will never be a time when its gates will be shut, for there will be no night there.
No danger. No curse. No sin. No rebellion.
Man has never known a community unmarred by sin, and we never will while on this earth. Every generation since the fall of man has dealt with an earth that is filled with sin and sorrow. In the New Jerusalem, we have something totally unique: a sinless, pure, community of righteousness, a holy city.
One of the best things of all: “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.” Revelation 21:4
Some of you who have heard me teach, know that I often break into song singing:
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus, life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ! One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so bravely run the race till we see Christ!”
What we see around us now, will fade when we see Jesus face-to-face. Are you ready for that wonderful eternity with God? One day, Jesus will return to remove evil and make all things new, including His people! And that is a promise that should motivate faithfulness in every one of us until the King returns.
Fast forward to the end! It’s the best part.