“Come, I will show you…”
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4, CSB
“Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ He then carried me away in the Spirit… and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem… arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a precious jewel…” – Revelation 21:9-11, CSB
“When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you… Worship God!’” – Revelation 22:8-9, CSB
Coming into our own
There is a payoff coming, a culmination to all the blood, sweat, and tears, all the hard work, the processing of vison and visioneering, of communicating, learning, and growing. The goals and challenges and distractions of a lifetime will one day come to an end, and the final tear of grief, hardship, or frustration will be wiped away. The endless redirecting of our own hearts back to Jesus – not to mention our further efforts to redirect the hearts of others whom we have the privilege to influence – will finally cease at His ultimate revealing. Even the tendency toward accidentally worshiping the wrong things will ultimately melt into praise and adoration of God Himself. The Bride, the radiant church of Jesus Christ, will come into her own, shining like a precious jewel in the glorious presence of God.
Everything Jesus envisioned
Today, as we turn the page on a calendar year, a new year is also just beginning, and the journey continues. There are missions that have been accomplished, while many dreams and goals are still in process, and there is much more work yet to be done! Whatever lies ahead, each of us can persevere with confidence, knowing that everything Jesus has ultimately envisioned – everything for which He has persevered, bled, and died – will be accomplished.
Transformed by God Himself
The church for which you continue to pray, which you have served, challenged, and endeavored to lead through Christlike example – that radiant church is even now being made ready. Those people, including you, are being transformed by God Himself. So keep going! Keep worshiping alongside her and pointing her to Jesus. Are you going to make mistakes along the way? Almost certainly, at least a few! But is Jesus accomplishing His purpose through it all? Absolutely. And the payoff? It’s going to be amazing, and, as we’ve said before, oh-so-very worth it all!
Think:
What has been most encouraging to you through the last year of learning to persevere in grace, purpose, and calling in Christ? Have you experienced something in particular that you are celebrating?
What do you feel challenged to pursue in faith throughout the next year?
Do you believe Jesus is accomplishing all that He has set out to do in and through His people, His church? Do you believe we will stand together with one another and with Christ one day, celebrating all that He has done? Why not end this year and begin the next one praising Him for all that He has done and is yet to accomplish! Happy New Year!
Prayer:
“Jesus, thank You for the way You shine so brightly, more brightly than any distraction we could ever face. Thank You for pointing us onward to the Day of culmination, the Day when all will be made new, when the grief and pain along the journey will have passed away. In the midst of our current need for perseverance as we press forward, keep drawing our vision and hope to the radiant future that awaits all those whose faith and trust are in You.”