Your Place or 'Mine?'

Scripture Verses that Caught My attention today: 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 the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them as their God;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

Observation: According to these verses, God is at home with us rather than the other way around.

Application: It seems that just about every person of faith periodically refers to heaven as the place where we will go to be with God. I can understand why. After all, Jesus himself speaks of going to prepare a place for us and coming back again to take us there (see John 14) so that, as he says, “where I am, there you may be also.”

But here in Revelation the vision is somewhat reversed. A new holy city comes down from the new heaven and lands on the new earth. And that, we are told, will be the home of God among the people of God.

It’s all a little confusing of course, and, given that Revelation paints a picture of a past/future with rather broad strokes, it would be unwise to interpret such things too literally. Thankfully the point that remains constant between the two views is that God very much plans to be in the thick of us, wherever in the world (or beyond) that might be. And that, we are told, will be a great day—one without mourning, crying, or pain.

Prayer: Lord, it doesn’t really matter to me whether we meet at your place or ‘mine,’ just as long as we, one way or another, are with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture readings today included: Ezekiel 40-41, Psalm 128, and Revelation 21)