The Holy City

I hate housecleaning. I postpone it until it is absolutely necessary. If you were to come visit unexpected, you would find piles of random items everywhere: stacks of mail, groceries, the grandchildren's toys, books, more mail, tools, electronics in pieces. But once in a while, usually when company is expected, I clean up. 

Yesterday, I finally put old photos in new frames and rearranged them in my dining room. I even dusted the shelves. It was a thing of beauty. There was something rejuvenating about discarding the broken frames, selecting the best photos of family, and placing them in order together.  

Maybe in a small way, this was the joy of God as He was able to put His creation back in order. He had already defeated evil. Now onto the process of getting His world in order.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, (Revelation 21:1) 

As God first created the world, now He recreates it. 

“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. (Revelation 21:3)

This is what God always wanted, to dwell with us. There was a long process to get there and He had patiently waited for it to play out to the end.  God will tenderly care for His people now that He can bring them into their final home. He will comfort them, provide for them, stay near to them.

"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!” ...

He said to me: “It is done... To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:4-7) 

The earth has been destroyed and so God brings from heaven a new, even more glorious creation. He describes it to John so that we can know how magnificent it will be. 

One of the seven angels ... said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he ...showed me The Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel...

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Revelation 21:9-11, 21-23)

God is creating a city so enormous, so stunningly beautiful, we can't imagine it. But as His image-bearers, we understand in a small way the joy of creating things, comforts for ourselves and for others we invite into our homes. He is not only creating for us and our joy, but I can feel His joy as well, His anticipation of a time and a place where He can dwell with His children and there will be true peace.  

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:24-27)

Beloved, I can only imagine what this will be like. Thank You for pulling back the curtain so that we can see it, if only dimly. I am delighted with Your delight to be with us for eternity. Help me to look forward to it and past this dark chaotic world. Let the anticipation of Your perfect glory inspire me to follow You more closely every day.