Sermon Title: The New Heaven and The New Earth
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."
"I've never been this homesick before." This is the title of a popular song that Dottie Rambo wrote and performed many years ago and I've been thinking about this song all week long as I've been researching the Scripture above. Heaven sounds so wonderful - no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, and no more pain. Regrets will be washed away, as will everything that is old. There will be no desire to sin, no temptation and no Devil and evil. This is home for the Christian - it is the place that Jesus said He would prepare for us (John 14:1-3) and it is the future of every believer. Yes, I am homesick - we live in a world plagued by sin at every corner and I long to be "home" - the place where my God will prepare for me.
But the most special thing about heaven is that Jesus will be there. He is the One that we pray to, worship and live for, and yet we have never seen Him with our physical eyes. In heaven our faith will have sight and we will not only see Jesus, but we will live forever in His presence. And it is at this time that we will experience God's love like never before - we will know God's love for us in all its fullness.
This coming Sunday we will talk more about "The New Heaven and The New Earth" as we end the sermon series, "The Remarkable Revelation." I hope to see you then! Until then, enjoy the words to this song: "See the bright light shine It's just about home time, I can see my Father at the door, This world has been a wilderness I'm ready for deliverance, Lord, I've never been this homesick before!" Amen!
