HOPE WHEN YOU ARE DEFEATED . . . by Death

As the old heaven and earth disintegrated, John stood in awed wonder of a “new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1). What he saw was confirmed by the words of the One who was seated on the throne: “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5). Imagine it: One day, everything will be brand-new!

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In contrast, our heavenly home is going to be brand-new!

Not just restored but created fresh! It will not only look fresh and new, but it will also feel fresh and new! John gives us, not just a vision of heaven’s fresh beauty, but a “feel” of heaven’s serenity, which permeates the atmosphere because God is there: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live 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’ ” (Revelation 21:3–4 niv 84).

In this brand-new home there will be no more death or pain or hospitals or funerals or grief or broken homes or broken hearts or broken lives or broken dreams.

There will be no more physical handicaps or muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis or blindness or lameness or deafness or arthritis or heart disease or diabetes.

Heaven will be perfect in its quality of life, not only because the life of Christ is lived out in redeemed men and women for all eternity, but because He is the center of it! Heaven is not only our home; it is His home! He is not only preparing this place as a heavenly home for you and me but as a heavenly home for Himself!

We will live with Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ will live with us! We will live with each other! Forever! We will never again be separated from our loved ones or from our Lord. And in heaven there will be perfect health and harmony and unity and unbroken times together! There will not even be the natural separation between night and day, because “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 21:23). Our heavenly home glows and radiates with light from within.

Every person born into the human race, no matter how wealthy, powerful, or knowledgeable he or she becomes, no matter how small and insignificant he or she feels, will ultimately be defeated by death. Death is the great equalizer. But the vision of His glory gives hope to you when you are defeated by death. It gives hope to you because you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ; your name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! The vision of His glory gives you hope because it reveals that this world is not your home, that death does not have the final word, that one day your faith will become sight, and you will see the gates of pearl flung open for you. Best of all, you will hear your King say, “Welcome home!”