Does Heaven Matter for Today?

​This life is filled with lots and lots of really good stuff. For instance, my daughter is marrying a man in ten days that I trust to love her, I visited with a great friend late into the evening last night and I listened to the beautiful sounds of thunder last night as I comfortably drifted in and out of sleep. I could go on and on! I have no doubt that most of you could also easily create a list of good things in your lives as well.
 
I love dwelling upon enjoyable things that make me smile, laugh and in general, feel good about life. It feeds my soul to see what is beautiful, good and true. As a believer in the Creator God, I believe the love of God and His presence can be found every day.
 
But then there is the other reality of today – we live in a broken and fallen world. Sin and death are real. I will face enemies and situations that are just simply too much for me to handle on my own. Our souls cry out for something more than this world has to offer. There is no doubt, we are not in heaven yet!
 
This Sunday we continue our look into some of the key passages from the book of Revelation. The vision that God gave to John meets us in our present situation but also brings us into a hopeful future. We are given strength and hope for today. While at the same time, experiencing an anticipation and expectation for a perfect day to come. We live in God’s presence today and then we look forward to the day we will actually gaze upon the face of Jesus. What a day that will be!
 
Here is our text for this Sunday’s message from Revelation 21.
 
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.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 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. 4 ‘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.”
 
5 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.”
 
6 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. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
 
In God’s perfect love and power, He can move into our present situation in a way that brings glimpses of heaven to earth. Through His Spirit and His Word, He invades our lives even today with aspects of the eternal joy and hope of heaven.
 
Living in the hope of heaven,
Pastor Nick