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And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." ⁶And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. [⁷The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.] —Revelation 21:5-6 [7] Charles Spurgeon had this to say about our passage in a sermon he delivered on January 1, 1885. •     How pleased we are with that which is new! Our children’s eyes sparkle when we talk of giving them a toy or a book which is called new; for our short-lived human nature loves that which has lately come, and is therefore like our own fleeting selves. In this respect, we are all children, for we eagerly demand the news of the day, and are all too apt to rush after the “many inventions” of the hour. •     We ought not, as men in Christ Jesus, to be carried away by a childish love of novelty, for we worship a God who is ever the same, and of whose years there is no end. In some matters “the old is better.” There are certain things which are already so truly new, that to change them for anything else would be to lose old gold for new dross. The old, old gospel is the newest thing in the world; in its very essence it is forever good news. In the things of God the old is ever new, and if any man brings forward that which seems to be new doctrine and new truth, it is soon perceived that the new dogma is only worn-out heresy dexterously repaired, and the discovery in theology is the digging up of a carcass of error which had better have been left to rot in oblivion. In the great matter of truth and godliness, we may safely say, “There is nothing new under the sun.” •    Yet, hope springs up at the first sound of such words as these from the lips of our risen and reigning Lord: “Behold, I make all things new.” It is fit that things so outworn and defiled should be laid aside, and better things fill their places. •    If Jesus has not made us new already, let the new year cause us to think about the great and needful change of conversion; and if our Lord has begun to make us new, and we have somewhat entered into the new world wherein dwells righteousness, let us be persuaded by the season to press forward into the center of his new creation, that we may feel to the full all the power of his grace. •    The words he speaks to us are truly divine. Listen,—”Behold, I make.” Who is the great I? Who but the eternal Son of God? “Behold, I make .” Who can make but God, the Maker of heaven and earth? It is his high prerogative to make and to destroy. “Behold, I make all things .” What a range of creating power is here! Nothing stands outside of that all-surrounding circle. “Behold, I make all things new .” What a splendor of almighty goodness shines out upon our souls! Lord, let us enter into this new universe of yours. Let us be new-created with the “all things.” In us also may men behold the marvels of your renewing love. •    That near and dear relationship which is manifested in adoption and regeneration, binds the child of God to the great Father’s heart in such a way that he will never cast him off, nor suffer him to perish. I rejoice in the fact that we are no longer bond-slaves but sons. “Behold,” says Christ, “I make all things new.” •    There has also been wrought in us by the work of the Holy Spirit a new life , with all the new feelings, and new desires, and new works which go therewith. The tree is made new, and the fruits are new in consequence. That same Spirit of God who taught us that we were ruined in our old estate, led us gently by the hand till we came to the New Covenant promise and looked to Jesus, and saw in him the full atonement for sin. Happy discovery for us; it was the kindling of new life in us. From the moment that we trusted in Jesus, a new life darted into our spirit. I am not going to say which is first, the new birth, or faith, or repentance. Nobody can tell which spoke of a wheel moves first; it moves as a whole. The moment the divine life comes into the heart we believe: the moment we believe the eternal life is there. We repent because we believe, and believe while we repent. The life that we live in the flesh is no longer according to the lusts of the world, but we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. For Reflection Do you doubt you are being made new in Christ Jesus (v. 5)? Are you thirsty for Him (v. 6)? Come just as you are–turn today to Jesus, look to Him, believe Him, and He will make you new and fill you with the living water of the Holy Spirit; and all of the promises of God will be yours as His child in Christ Jesus.

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." ⁶And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. [⁷The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.] —Revelation 21:5-6 [7] These verses present themselves like a treasure chest overflowing with immeasurable riches. These verses speak of the heart and character of God, of refreshing and renewing, of truth and knowledge and wisdom, of finality and completion, of final victory, of ultimate satisfaction, of eternal contentment, of everlasting love. These declarations and assertions, full of sovereignty and promise, excite the mind, entice the heart, and empower the spirit. This is fertile ground for faith. This is a verdant garden of hope. This is an artesian well of joy. There is so much here to explore and enjoy. Let me take only one part, the most glorious, majestic part of all, to which every other part subscribes: “He who was seated on the throne.” John introduces us to “the one who sits upon the throne” in Revelation 4: "After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'” It is not that we do not know the one who sits on the throne. We have heard His gospel. We have seen His word. We have believed and received His Spirit. No, this is not the introduction of a new acquaintance. This is a reminder of the glory of the beloved King. This is a refreshing vision of one whose love we know but who has perhaps been hidden from our sight by the bluster and fog of this world. “Glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever!” John returns often to the scene around the throne. Jesus keeps opening the curtain of heaven and inviting him in so that he can record what he sees and report to the rest of us. Curious, though, is the fact that though we often see activity around the throne, and hear voices of praise and instruction from those who surround the throne or are sent by the one who sits upon the throne, it is not until the final outpouring of the wrath of God upon the world, the seventh bowl of Revelation 16:17, that we hear direct, distinct words from the one who sits upon the throne himself, “It is done!” It is only after that incredible, long-awaited pronouncement of divine accomplishment and sovereign satisfaction that John records the voice of him who sits on the throne speaking directly to his beloved people. And all the other direct expressions of divine speech come in Revelation 21! Revelation 21:3, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." Revelation 21:5-8. "And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' 6 And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.'” Dear brothers and sisters, elect of God and hidden with Christ in God by the Spirit of God in the grace of God according to the word of God, listen! “He who sits upon the throne” has the last word. The heathen rage. The demons shout. The beast deceives and the false prophet lies. The world, bound in pride and enslaved to a lifelong fear of death, mourns with unrepentant ferocity. But our God has the last word! Our God speaks the last word of victory, and healing, and life. He has the last word of restoration and justice and righteousness and holiness and glory, eternal and infinite, unbound and unhindered by sin or rebellion! Today is not a day to be overcome with fear and deceived by lies. Today is not a day for despair and gloom. Today is no day to resign in hopelessness. No! Today is a day to stand with the myriads of angels and inhabitants of heaven and rejoice! Today is a day to live by faith and not by sight! He who sits upon the throne neither abdicates His position nor abandons His people. Jesus reveals to John what is already true in heaven and will one day be fully realized on earth. The one who sits upon the throne has the last and best word, the new word, the trustworthy and true word, the fully revealing, life-giving word, the word of God to the children of his love and choice! Look up! Look beyond the chaos of this world. Listen to the voice beyond the cacophony of human culture. He who sits on the throne speaks eternal truth. Trust Him!

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. —Revelation 21:4 Our verse this week picks up in the middle of a passage about the new heaven and the new earth. We know from verse 3 that the He  at the start of verse 4 is God. Imagine, not only will there be no death, mourning, crying, or pain in the age to come, but all the things that caused our suffering will be no more.  For many, that day can’t come soon enough. Christmas is especially hard for those who’ve lost loved ones. Every tradition is full of reminders of what things used to be like before one so dearly loved died. This week marks the first anniversary of my uncle’s stroke. It’s also the first time my aunt, newly widowed, is facing Christmas alone. Every day holds memories of his decline, along with grief, longing, and learning how to live without him.  Advent is well suited to grieving. The posture of waiting for the fulfillment of a promise matches the longing for the day when God will wipe away our tears.  In the midst of suffering, David wrote, “ You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle” (Psalm 56:8a).  The Father who holds our tears in a bottle is the one who will dry them. This is not a picture of God with a massive box of Kleenex — it’s a cosmic shift away from sorrow and suffering. In heaven not only will our tears be wiped away, there will be no reason to cry. Everything that made us sad and caused us grief — the former things — will be past tense. Done away with. No more. For this to be possible, the Son of God had to take on flesh and be born a baby, entering our world to open the way to heaven. Immanuel , God with us, took our sin and suffered in our place. Now those who trust in His perfect righteousness can be with God and not be destroyed by God. So fully did Jesus satisfy the Father’s wrath against our sin, that we can look forward to a day when God the Father will wipe every tear from our eyes. Could there be a more tender picture of a father’s love for his child?  At Jesus’ second Advent, we will meet Him in the air and we will always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). These are the comforting words Paul urges Christians to share with one another. It will be a joy to be with our loved ones who have gone before us in death to heaven. But even that reunion will not be what removes our tears or causes our crying to cease.  John tells us that in his vision, he heard a loud voice from the throne of God in heaven saying, “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3). What could be more certain than God’s own, loud voice, announcing His presence as the central feature of heaven? This is what will restore everything: God with us, His people, forever. My aunt says it's hard to celebrate Christmas this year. Unpacking the decorations that hold so many memories brings tears to her eyes. But there’s a gift in that. When you strip away the traditions and the trimmings, what’s left of Christmas is Jesus. He, the Creator, took on flesh to dwell among us in order to redeem us. He is the hope of Christmas. For Reflection Are you, or is someone you love, grieving this Christmas? How might you take comfort from Revelation 21:4? How might you offer it to another? If this Christmas finds you grieving, ask God to use your tears to sharpen your vision and deepen your longing for His return.  Candice Watters  is the editor of Fighter Verses and contributor to Truth78's webinars . She and her husband, Steve, teach My Purpose Will Stand   for 5th grade Sunday school at their church in Louisville, KY. The Watterses are the parents of two grown children and two nearly so.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:4 In March of 2020, I was on a scheduled trip to Cordoba, Argentina, to meet with a group of pastors and missionaries. We had only just arrived when news broke out about the growing global spread of the Coronavirus. After spending the first day with church planters, Argentina announced a nationwide quarantine and the closing of the country to travelers from the United States. Thankfully, we were able to change our plans and return home the next day. That trip seems like an eternity ago, but since that day, we’ve experienced the effects of a global pandemic: inconvenience, loss of jobs, illness, masks, online church services, stress, depression, riots, political turmoil, and, as of this month, approximately 265,000 deaths related to COVID-19. The common sentiment is, “When will this end?” This was also the sentiment toward the end of the first century when John wrote Revelation. Chapters 2-3 paint a picture of Christians living in a dark world filled with distraction, temptation, suffering, and the threat of death. The cry in that day was also, “When will this end?” Specifically, it was, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 6:10)? The answer came back, “rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been” (Revelation 6:11). Admittedly, our suffering has not been on the level of what our first brothers and sisters experienced, and thankfully so. Still, with all the suffering and evil around us, our cry should be the same—“How much longer, Lord?” If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that Adam’s sin still affects our world, human rebellion is rampant, and we should long for a better country. This world is not our home. We are only exiles sojourning toward our heavenly dwelling, the celestial city. But we don’t long for our heavenly home just to escape suffering in this world. We long to be home because our God is there (Revelation 21:3). He is our home, and we’re traveling to be with Him. Jesus is the way to the Father, and He has shown us the way home—through suffering and death. But death does not have the last word. When Christ returns, and heaven comes down, we will be in the presence of God. Like a good father, our heavenly Father will receive us and “wipe away every tear from our eyes” (Revelation 21:4). What a beautiful picture! When one of my daughters was hurt and ran into my arms, one of the first things I would do is ask her what happened, where she was hurt, wipe her tears from her eyes, and kiss her. That’s the picture the apostle John paints in Revelation 21:4. Except, it’s not just our Father wiping our tears to send us on our way. It’s the end of suffering because it’s the end of sin. Therefore, the effects of sin are over—“death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” That’s the day we long for. That’s why we cry out, “How much longer, O Lord? When will this end?” Because we know it will end! Just as Christ cried out on the cross, “It is finished!,” so also, He will come again and bring this old age to an end. Lord Jesus, come quickly. And as we wait, give us your grace until the end. For Reflection Have you cried out to the Lord, “When will this end?” Where do you turn for hope in those times? Have you grown so comfortable in this world that you don’t long for your heavenly home? What do you need to do to reorient your perspective toward heaven? How have you been able to redeem the time to share the good news of Jesus with unbelievers? If you haven’t, would you commit to pointing others to the eternal hope we have in Christ?

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  —Revelation 21:4 The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that the whole creation has been “subjected to futility” (v. 20). Even those who have the “first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly”(v. 23) under it. Our bodies ache with sickness and disease. Our eyes overflow with tears. Our souls plunge into mourning. Our hearts heave with pain. Day after day, we groan under the curse of creation, and yet, we do not groan “as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our Fighter Verse was given to the groaning Bride of Christ so that she might persevere in hope as she awaits her wedding day. On the night before the Bridegroom was crucified, Jesus made it clear that the disciples were in for some serious groaning: “you will weep and lament, you will be sorrowful”; “…you have sorrow now”; “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:20, 21-22, 33). But Jesus did not leave his disciples without hope. He makes it clear that their groaning would not endure: “...your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). “...I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ...take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). For all who are in Christ, groaning must ultimately give way to rejoicing: “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy (must) come with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Tears must ultimately cease to flow; pain must ultimately be swallowed up by pleasure, mourning must give way to exultation, death must give way to everlasting life. There is no grief, no pain, no sorrow, and no death that can hold us captive. They must all ultimately yield to the One who wipes away every tear. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). By contrast, for those outside of Christ, every joy and every pleasure in this life will ultimately give way to everlasting sorrows in that place of everlasting groaning and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28). Keeping the joy of Revelation 21:4 before us is the secret to enduring whatever groaning faces you today. It is a secret taught to us by the “founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Hebrews 12:2). Tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain are passing away. Let us, in hope, behold the day when Christ will wipe it all away. For Reflection Are you groaning under the present circumstances of your life? If so, add those specific circumstances to the list of what will be “no more” in Revelation 21:4 (“neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, nor cancer, nor fractured relationships, nor unemployment, etc.”). Then give thanks to God for the hope He gives us in our groaning. What do you most look forward to about God dwelling with us? How does that hope sustain you in the midst of hard times? Consider other people you know who are “groaning.” What are some practical ways you can groan with them and encourage them?

[And] I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God." Revelation 21:3 Every year, Christians spend the month of December remembering and building anticipation for the birth of Jesus. For thousands of years, God’s people had been waiting with longing for the arrival of Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14). When He finally came, it was worth celebrating. This is why we remind ourselves of the joy, wonder, and gratitude we get to experience living this side of the incarnation.  Because Christ has come, we get to know God’s promises through Scripture. We get the security, guidance, and conviction of the Holy Spirit in us. But we still live in a gap, in a world largely apathetic and sometimes openly hostile to the fact that God dwelt here for our sake. Thankfully, Advent isn’t just about Jesus’ birthday. Now we look forward to something greater, something to which the first Advent pointed. How often do you celebrate Jesus’ coming again–the second Advent? Jesus’ return will set off a series of events that will culminate with the new heaven and new earth, where heaven and earth will be eternally wed (Revelation 21:1-2). When that time comes, a loud voice from the throne of God will say, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God“ (Revelation 21:3). This, Christian, is our future. Immanuel, God with us, forever . At the first Advent, God the Son dwelt with man. But Jesus of Nazareth lived in just one small corner of the earth. Most around Him had no idea who He was. Even His family and closest followers needed to be convinced. At the second Advent, there will be no doubters. God will dwell with man, and all will recognize Him. At the first Advent, Jesus came for His people, but they rejected Him and His followers abandoned Him. Eventually, He was mocked and killed for claiming to be exactly who He was. At the second Advent, after the judgment, everyone in the new heaven and new earth will be His people. And we will joyfully submit to His reign. At the first Advent, God the Son was with His people. He ate with them, talked with them, and taught them. But His presence was temporary. At the Second Advent, He will remain  with His people. We will not know another moment for all eternity where we will not be in the very presence of God. Does this make your heart sing? It does mine! Let this season of Advent lead you to fix your mind on the glorious second Advent that, as the Gloria Patri   says, “ever shall be, world without end.”  For Reflection What are you looking forward to most about the new heaven and new earth? When are you most tempted to focus so much on this life that you forget the next? What habits can you build to keep the second Advent regularly before your eyes? Greg Palys is a pastor at College Park Church in Indianapolis, IN, primarily overseeing ministry to children and their families. He and Sarah have five children: Ruth, Ezekiel, James, Eden, and Luke.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” —Revelation 21:3 With . It’s such a short, yet powerful word that kindles some of the deepest emotions of the human heart. An engaged couple eagerly counts down the days until they can be with each other at last. A soldier fights against all odds in the hope he can get home to be with his family again. A grandmother longs for the next time she can be with her grandkids. When we talk about being with someone, there are two aspects to what we mean: presence and relationship . We use with to communicate both ideas. To want to be with someone, on one hand, means simply to want to be where they are, to be around them and enjoy their company. On the other hand, it can mean to be connected to someone in relationship, like when we say, “She’s best friends with her,” or when the celebrity tells the security guard, “He’s with me.” We see both of these elements of with-ness in Revelation 21:3. There, the voice from the throne proclaims that God will be with his people in both senses of the word. We will forever enjoy both the glory of His presence and the goodness of relationship with Him. What makes this reality so stunning is that this with-ness is the merciful reversal of our former situation. While we were created to be in God’s presence, one of the tragic consequences of our sin was that God could no longer dwell with us. Isaiah 59:2 says, “your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” Were God to dwell with us, his holiness would consume us because of our sin. But our separation wasn’t only spatial; it was also relational. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:12 that we were “separated from Christ…having no hope and without God in the world.” Let the bleakness of that statement land on you. We were without God. He was not our God, and we were not his people. God was not with us in either sense of the word. But the bleakness of that word without only serves to heighten the beauty of the word with in our verse. In order for us to get to the “with” of Revelation 21:3, Jesus came to dwell with us as a man. And not merely to dwell with us; he also died for us. When Jesus died for us, our sins were nailed to the tree and we were crucified with him (Gal. 2:20), we were raised with him (Colossians 3:1), and made alive with ” him (Ephesians 2:5). That’s what makes Revelation 21:3 so glorious. Because of Jesus, God can and will one day dwell with us! We will finally be with the One our souls long for. In His presence we’ll find fullness of joy. He will be with us as our God, and we’ll be with Him as his people. This Christmas let's celebrate the coming of Immanuel, “God with us,” and long for the day when He comes again to be with us, finally and fully, forever . For Reflection What do you most look forward to about God dwelling with us? How does that hope sustain you in the midst of hard times? How does it encourage you to remember that God is with us by His Spirit even now? What can you do this Advent to stir up deeper longing in your heart for Jesus' Second Advent when God will come to dwell with us? How can you seek to tell others about this hope?

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” —Revelation 21:3 A child cries out in the middle of the night. A parent stumbles down a dark hallway, half asleep. A tear-stained face has just one request, “Will you sit with me?” From a very early age we yearn for the presence of loved ones who will keep us safe. As a difficult year draws to an end, we reflect on verses that offer comfort from the presence of our God. We encounter this week’s verse at a particular moment in history. A global pandemic has brought disruption, suffering, and death to communities around the world. One of the most effective public health responses has been referred to as “social distancing.” Psychologists have begun to explore the mental health effects of social distancing—increased anxiety, depression, and stress. But in many ways, we don’t need to wait for the studies, we have all lived it. Distance from family, friends, our church families, it has been painful, and it has been difficult. In this moment of uncertainty and suffering, a loud voice speaks. It speaks from the very throne of God and it brings certainty and comfort. God’s dwelling will not be socially distant. He will dwell with His people. He will be with them, in person, as their God. In the second to last chapter of the Bible, we return to a theme that has been there from the beginning. In Genesis 2, God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Then after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God” (Genesis 3:8). Beginning with their son, Cain, the Bible tells countless stories of the social dislocation and isolation ushered in by sin. But there is hope. Not only is the relationship-breaking impact of sin front and center in the arc of salvation history, so is the restorative beauty of God’s presence. It is visible in the pillar of fire and cloud in the desert. It is represented by the ark and tabernacle and then the temple. The Lord’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai included the promise that He would “make [His] dwelling among” His people and “walk among [them] and…be [their] God” (Leviticus 26:11-12). We also encounter this verse during the Advent season. Many of us are uncertain what our Christmas celebration will look like this year. But we are reminded by this week’s verse that God came to dwell among us, is with His people always, and will be with us when He makes all things new (see also Matthew 1:22-23, 28:20). In many ways, 2020 was been a year where the brokenness of sin was unusually clear. The world is broken. We are not able to make it right. Isolation is painful. We need a Savior. May the words of this verse bring encouragement to proclaim the good news of the gospel and rest in God. For Reflection Which Bible stories are most powerful as you reflect on themes of isolation and the impact of God’s presence? Where have you seen the comfort of God’s presence this year? What are some creative ways you can bring the comfort of God’s presence to people in your family or community this week?

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. —1 Corinthians 15:51-52 "You haven’t lost as much as last time.” That's what my dentist said at my last appointment. Every visit is an evaluation of loss. I’ve never heard him say my teeth got stronger or that I’ve gained ground on the cavity threatening to overtake and conquer a tooth. Instead, if the decay only makes small advances into my tooth, that’s a victory. For younger folks reading this, perhaps this is hard to grasp. As you are growing up, you’re gaining height, strength, and knowledge. But you also have probably felt sore muscles after a long day of play or experienced an injury making an arm, wrist, or leg more difficult to move. That’s because we live under the curse of sin. In a sinful world, things deteriorate, teeth decay, joints wear out, and our bodies break down. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Paul reveals to us a mystery. It’s not a secret, but something that was hidden for ages. Gloriously, God is now making it known. There is a day when the decay we experience will stop. Not only that, but also, we will be changed. And we will not only be “new,” we'll be better than new. Paul also tells us “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” This contrast shows us that you may die or you may still be alive when this happens, but—believer in Jesus—you will not miss out on this transformation when it comes. When normal growth happens, it takes time. This transformation will be instantaneous. Unlike learning to walk or learning to write, this will happen “in a moment” and “in the twinkling of an eye.” Think of how quickly the human eye can move. Look left and then suddenly flick your eyes to the right. Your eyes are incredibly quick. But quicker even than that, you will be transformed. Paul says this will happen in the future, “at the last trumpet.” When it happens, those who have died will be raised in their new imperishable bodies, and those who are alive will also be changed and receive their imperishable bodies. This is an incredible promise, made certain by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. He lived a perfect life. He died as a substitute for sin. He rose again with a glorified body as indication and vindication, that any who trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of their sin will be made right with God and will have the certainty of this future hope—no more decay, a glorified body, and being present with the Savior. As we enter the Advent season, we anticipate the celebration of Jesus with our church, our family, and our friends. This anticipation is fitting. It reminds us of the anticipation of all of human history–waiting, hoping, and longing for the Savior to arrive. Looking back, we can see the amazing promises God fulfilled. Looking forward, we can rest in the certain hope that our future expectation will be fulfilled when Jesus comes back. We should wait, hope, and long for His return because we will be with our Savior forever. And when He comes, there will be no more decay. Decay is discouraging. It’s hard. But it’s temporary. Your future hope in Christ is certain. Every time you notice the normal decay happening in our world, fix your heart on the unshakeable certainty of your future hope in Jesus.  For Reflection In what ways do you see the reality of the limited and perishable nature of your body? How does the promise of 1 Corinthians 15 give you hope? How can you remind yourself of the certainty of this promise this week? Nate Miller  is the Associate Preaching Pastor at Revive Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. Nate and his wife, Angela, live in Brooklyn Park and have three children.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. —1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Does evil lead you to despair or to hope? When I say “evil,” I’m talking about the curse of sin that has affected everything. Everything bad in this world is a result of the curse of sin. Thousands of people die each day because of this curse. Disability and disease are everywhere. Violence is commonplace. There is relational strife. Work is hard, and not always enjoyable. Our bodies get old and worn out. All of these things happen—not as a direct result of sin in every case—but because sin came into the world. But one thing that is sure and steady for the believer is hope. What is our hope? 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” Our hope is that everything that's broken now will be fixed in heaven. There is coming a day when everything that was once impacted by the curse of sin will be made new and perfect. All the violence, pain, and sin will become but a memory. One book earlier, in the epistle of Romans, Paul makes a connection for us between our suffering and our hope in Romans 8:22-25: For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Suffering exists, not that we would despair, but that we would hope. Hope reminds us that the brokenness of this life is temporary, and there is coming a day when it will be no more. Back at our original question: does evil (the curse of sin) lead you to despair or to hope? An earthly mindset might be given to despair, but a heavenly mindset will see through the pain to a hope-filled future. For Reflection Do you long for heaven? If not, what keeps you from longing for heaven? Where do you tend to look for hope apart from the hope of heaven? Have you found lasting hope there? Why or why not? How will you suffer differently if you are hoping in heaven versus if you are hoping elsewhere?

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. —1 Corinthians 15:51-52 What do you look forward to? A new year? Warm weather? An upcoming life milestone? Anticipation—looking forward—is hope in what will come. But sometimes reality can fail to measure up to our expectations, leaving us deflated and disappointed. Consider Paul’s enthusiastic anticipation in our passage. Look! A mystery! This scriptural concept of mystery is the process of illuminating something that was once shrouded and hidden. Paul is laying out in plain view truth about our future that was not always seen in such clarity. As believers in Christ, what future do we look forward to? A tremendous and amazing change, not exclusively for those who are still living nor for those who already sleep (have died). We all shall be changed. When will this happen? In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. What will the trumpet announce? Revelation 11 describes the last trumpet (the seventh of seven) in this way: “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever’” (Revelation 11:15). What will happen then? The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) What kind of changes will we experience? Consider these awesome and thrilling details we know with certainty. Instead of dwelling in perishable flesh and blood, ever subject to the decay and weakening effects of the fall, we will have an imperishable and immortal body. (1 Corinthians 15:50, 53) We will no longer be waiting to see Christ but will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4) The lingering struggle that believers have with indwelling sin will be finished, and we will be free to enjoy and worship God forever. (Romans 8:20-23, 30) Tears, death, mourning, crying, and pain will be past, and all things will be made new. (Revelation 21:4-5) Some things we anticipate may fail to measure up to our ideas, but if we fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ, we will never be disappointed. For Reflection What gives you the most hope in your daily life? Do you find yourself riding an emotional roller coaster of anticipation and disappointment because things you’re looking forward to fail to deliver real satisfaction? How do God’s promises for the future change our life today? How can we keep this future hope in view even in the troubles of the present?

…he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4 This year has been hard; you don't have to look far to see someone struggling. Maybe you feel overwhelmed yourself. In a year when a pandemic is raging; when we’re separated from loved ones, surrounded by turmoil, and “normal” life has come to a halt, it's easy to feel powerless. It's easy to feel like evil is winning. Satan vehemently continues his hate-filled assault against God’s people—he is in the world, always lying, twisting God’s truth, the spirit of antichrist tempting us to sin in despair. When evil surrounds you—when you look out at the world and wonder Is this defeat? —when you think that living in this world is too hard, that darkness is winning, remember: He who lives in you is greater. Jesus has overcome. The God of the universe reigns, and He dwells in you. He has overcome the world (John 16:33). Those who trust the Lord Jesus are indwelt by Him, the One who defeated sin and death once and for all (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). The Victor who convincingly defeated the enemy lives in God’s people (Colossians 2:15). We daily face the brokenness of the world, yet walk in the reality of our identity in Christ—for truly we are “more than conquerors through Him who loves us” (Romans 8:37). The question then, is, can people see this reality in us? God dwells in us. Do the people who listen to us, interact with us, and watch us living our life see Him in us? Are we pointing them to the overwhelming victory of our King? Is it obvious who is within you? Do you live your life knowing, then showing, that God is greater than this world? How will we show the world the truth of Christ’s victory and greatness? We are called to love each other well—to love in actions and in truth (1 John 3:18). We will love even the unlovable and we will love sacrificially. We will do it, because He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. We will do it because it's the Holy Spirit dwelling within us who makes it possible. So, reach out to someone and love them. Love them in a way that points them to the One who is In you, shining through you. Show Jesus to everyone around you. You may be feeling especially weary and heavy-laden. Now is the time for you take hold of the beautiful encouragement of this verse. In the weeks and months to come, may we show in all we do that the One who dwells in us is greater than he who is in the world. For Reflection Remind a fellow believer of the truth of Jesus' greatness today. Does your life point people to Jesus? Pray that God would help you to be a light. Read the entire book of 1 John this week, praying and reflecting on God’s word. Ask God to change you through His word.