December 29, 2020
Jesus, the Future Hope Still – Revelation 21:5-7
Dr. Larry S. Lightner
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.” 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. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”. –Revelation 21:5-7
We are creatures of time. God is not bound in time. He brackets what we call time with a statement, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. All that proceeds, proceeds from and through God. He does not have any limitation. These words help our belief.
Do you remember our Lord’s last words from the cross? After all the mocking of men, the sorrow, the pain, the gloom, the darkness, and the anguish of separation from His Father, Jesus cries out, “It is finished!” The plan of redemption was settled, the right sacrifice for sin made, and the underpinning for salvation completed. Revelation 21:6 has a similar statement: “It is done!” The redemption begun at the cross is fully complete; salvation needs nothing added to be effective.
Here in Revelation is the statement that the redeemed have arrived home in glory. God’s plan has been fully accomplished; not one thing is unfinished.
Further, we see from Revelation 21 that the purpose of the new heaven and new earth is that it will be the inheritance and home of the redeemed. The thirsty will be refreshed. On earth, the earth dwellers attempted to satisfy their thirst with wealth, fame, pleasure, and possessions. There is no such need in heaven. Only one thing can quench the deep thirst of the soul—God Himself.
People who thirst after God are promised that they will drink of the water of the spring of life. These are those who are identified as overcomers. They inherit all that God has newly created.
The apostle Peter tells us that there is waiting for us an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade—kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Life Application
Our salvation and its benefits occupy a “received, but not fully matured just yet.” Our fully received salvation is an Advent event. It is part of our Hope Still – coming at the return of Christ; His second coming. His promises are sure.
As we draw our Advent 2020 devotions to a close, be mindful that Christ is not done with us yet. Be also mindful that Christ expects that we will impact lives around us with the truth of His return being neat. Because the return is near, we ought to be a people of urgency. There are still millions (billions) that have not started a relationship with Christ. It is an eternal disaster for them. The Scriptures spell out how one must respond to have eternal life.
Help someone today receive the blessings of being Christ’s child. They will be eternally grateful.
Prayer
- Pray that you will be sensitive to the needs of folks you meet, discerning their salvation condition.
- Pray that God will help you hunger for His Word of truth, so that you will be ready to explain what someone must do to receive Christ. Pray that your drive for being a disciple will increase in the coming days of your life.
