Dwelling With God

Revelation 21:1-4 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, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live 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.”
 
“THE old order has passed away.”  God’s will is done on earth as it is in Heaven. When you look at the world, wouldn’t you like the “old order” of many things to be gone right now? After all, the old order is marked by the acts of the sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21a) The apostle Paul then concludes this sin list with an alert: I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21b) God does not dwell with unrepentant sinners.
   God does dwell with the saints – those who have confessed their sins and proclaimed Jesus as “Lord of my life.” The New Jerusalem and the New Heaven and earth will be marked with God’s new order governed by the fruit of the Spirit (that) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
   A new Jerusalem will no longer harbor disobedient idolators. All saved in Jesus will be God’s people. The church will become the holy bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sea – a symbol of evil – will not exist. God will dwell with his people just as he did with Adam and Eve in the perfect Garden.
   This fulfills God’s will first stated in the law: Leviticus 26:11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
   God is a Promise Maker. This promise is why Jesus suffered and died. And the Promise defines the culmination of God’s victory over evil. God’s plan of salvation will be fulfilled, and he will dwell with his people in holy perfection forevermore.
   Yes, what a glorious day it will be when the old order is gone. Saved by your faith in Jesus,, you will be in the place God has prepared for you. He will do this because he wants you to be where he is. (See John 14:1-2)     
 
Prayer: O Lord God, thank you for dwelling with us now through the Holy Spirit. We look forward to dwelling with you eternally in the new home you have prepared for us. Amen!