December 10, 2010, Second Friday of Advent
Scripture: Revelation 21:1-5a
There I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the seas 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.”
In the season of Advent, we hope for the future. We are also waiting in the fulfillment of the ultimate hope of the Second Advent.
This scripture from Revelation gives us a clear and vivid picture of what the Second Advent will look like. It is a picture of what it will look like when Christ Jesus returns, the New Jerusalem comes upon the earth, and we are resting at the feet of the Lord.
There will be no more tears. Our hearts will be filled with joy and jubilation for we will be with the Lord, and those whom have gone on before us. It will be the image of perfect communion and relationship.
There will be no more death or sorrow. No, longer will we feel the hurt of losing someone close to us. Life in the kingdom of God is eternal. It never ends. We will enjoy the things we enjoy, and we will do so with all of God’s people.
There will be no more pain. We will no longer hurt. Our aches, our fears, our diseases will all go away. The hurts of the world will be gone.
All of this, and more, is the image of God’s original creation. This is what the world was intended to be, and will be once again when God returns.
Hope in that day. It will come. God has promised us this day, and God will not turn his back from his promises. May this day – this Second Advent – guide us and our actions as we live in this world that is filled with tears, hurts, pains, and death. Know that these hurts and pains do not get to write the final story. God’s Second Advent is the final story.
Lord, we wait in hope for your return. Today, we live in a world of fears, tears, pains, and death. You know each of our pains, our hurts, tears, and fears. Take them away Lord. Comfort us, and prepare us for your return. We wait in hope for we know you are coming. In Jesus name, Amen.
Shannon Blosser 