Heaven Makes Grief Worth It

Introduction

As a kid one of the best moments was right before the school year started because we would get new shoes. There was nothing like a new shoe feel, even the shoes you kept clean, even the shoes you didn’t wear often did not compare to the shoes that were new. The new smell, the mint condition, it was just a great feeling! I believe we all have something new that excites us all the time. Well we serve a God who provides us with new mercies every day, every time we enhale is a new breath, every time our heart beats it’s a new beat! God is a God of newness. In spite of God’s newness there’s a sense of

This life is filled with sorrow and troubles here below, We oft are made to wonder just why it should be so; In ev’ry tribulation this life must bring to view, O Lord, we need a friend like you.

The world we live in is filled with trouble. If we turn on the news we see homicide, genocide, oppression and pain. One would assume that because of the world we live in, to be in eternal fellowship with God would be a no brainer, nonetheless just like pain exist on earth, just like grief exist on earth so does joy, happiness and triumph.

In 21st chapter of Revelation we are given insight to a vision that John has that operated in conjunction with many of the prophecies.

Isaiah 65:17 ““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”

2 Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

In this vision John speaks of a new heaven and a new earth a place with no more sea, a Holy City, New Jerusalem, a place prepared as a pride adorned for her husband. The beauty of heaven and the joy of eternal fellowship with God isn’t the fact that pain no longer exist or the that there will be an absence of sin but it’s the fact that we can rejoice at promise of the eternal presence of God in all His glory! It’s God’s presence that makes things new! Even within the confines of our life God’s power makes us new on a daily basis, forgiveness we are made new, through baptism we are made new, it is the power of God that provides us with a daily reassurance of newness!

Because of Jesus We Have Something to Look Forward to

Revelation 21:2 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

This is one of the challenges that Pharisees and Saducess experienced simply because they saw a rebuilt Jerusalem as a hegemon within the world rather than the kingdom of God. Jesus not only restored the relationship of mankind back to God, His death was the reparing of a broken system at the expense of sin. God’s new structure is open for all of mankind, God’s new structure knows no hierarchy, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

We have to remember where our newness comes from. Our newness doesn’t begin on earth our newness comes from the Power of God in heaven. Jesus came from His heavenly home to restore us! God has always made the first move, God has always send His blessings from His hand into our hand. When we consider the children of Israel, Manna came from heaven! When we think of any blessing understand that there is no newness without God!

To long for heaven isn’t to hate earth. Be reminded of what God said as he created the earth, Genesis 1:31 “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” This should provide insight to our lives and push us to steward what God has blessed us with, God creation is to be enjoyed, celebrated, respected and affirmed. We know that God ensures that his children, that the church will be prepared we’ve been provided with a number of examples to ensure that we are ready when the bridgroom comes.

Be mindful that if God is preparing a place for us, we have to be prepared for His return! Matthew 25:13 ““Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

A Present Comfort And a Future Promise

The beauty of the power of God is the fact that He does things to alleviate the mistakes of the past, provide a present help and provide a sense of hopefulness for the future all at one time.

Life brings about pain, but the power of Jesus brings about comfort, life brings about tears, but Jesus has the power to wipe away all tears, life brings about frustration and stress and Jesus has the power to provide us with rest.

Revelation 21:3–4“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””

Not only has God provided us with practical instruction, Jesus died so that we could have a collective belonging as brothers and sisters in Christ. This life can be full of pain, mourning and death but I’m thankful that in the midst of all the pain that life brings, I serve a God that can not only provide me comfort in the present but a hope for the future! Albeit suffering and death are a part of life that have done a tragic number on a number of people but the power of God removes the very thought of pain even being a part of what is to come.

This is also a reminder of the grace of God, God is opposed to suffering and pain, He’s preparing a place for His correction where these things do not exist! Suffering and pain is the antithesis of the very nature of God! God in is His eternal form is a God of grace, mercy and love. It doesn’t remove the conseqence of sin and refusal to surrender to the will of God but it should motivate us to live an obedient life that promotes the sacrifice that God made in our lives.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””

The reason I’m even able to experience these painful and agnozing times is because of the power of God! Overcoming tragedy is a reflection of the hope that I have in Jesus! To know that even in the toughest times I have a God that can provide me comfort at the darkest moments.

Conclusion

This text is a constant reminder of what is to come. My hope is in God, not in a place or a person. I know that God will see me through, I know there’s a place prepared for me! I’m thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and I’m going to live my life as a reflection of what it means to be thankful for the cost He paid that I might make heaven my home. Considering such, I’m thankful because as I wait on Jesus to return God has not left us desolate and without help, His power from heaven has come down to dwell with the people of God! Our hope hangs in the balance of our relationship with God with the surety that one day heaven will be my home!