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. 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 21:3-4
Lord Jesus, my soul rejoices this morning as I ponder the already but not yet aspect of Your glorious salvation towards me. As I was ministered to this morning, “by past grace You have completely saved us. By present grace you are changing us and ruling the cosmos. By future grace You will usher in the new heaven and new earth, and totally make us like yourself.” Thank You for Scotty Smith, who reminded me of this glorious truth, and thank You for Your Word that speaks so gloriously to it now in my sight! Through Your sacrifice You fully and completely saved me, washing away all of my sins. Through Your “right now” presence within my heart by the Holy Spirit, You are changing me, sanctifying me daily as I crucify my flesh and live through the presence of His power. All of this looking forward to that day when You shall make all things new, when I shall know even as I am known. Hallelujah!
Thank you for the foretaste of what it shall be like to be eternally in Your presence. Because Your Holy Spirit has taken residence in my heart, I have a blessed hope that can never be taken away, as I look to that day when I shall shed all of my brokenness that is attached to this flesh, and shall be made new in You. My soul looks forward to that glorious day when You shall wipe tears, remove pain, extinguish death, and squash pain. Until then, I keep my eyes on You, savoring the appetizers that You are serving out in this life in anticipation of that great and glorious banquet when I, and all who wait patiently upon Your return, will feast with You forever, celebrating eternally Your goodness to Your glory. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen!