Scripture
25Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 21:25-27
Observation
The Apostle John was there on Golgotha when Jesus cried “I Am Thirsty” and the Roman soldiers shoved sour wine in his face. John was there when Jesus declared “It is Finished” from the Cross and bowed his head and surrendered his spirit to God The Father. Can you imagine the emotion welling up in John as God gives him the vision of Heaven: “5And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. 6And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” (Rev 21:5-7). When the world looked at Jesus, dead upon the cross, they thought it was the end of another temporary story of a do-gooder doing no good. They had no idea that everything Jesus did on earth was eternal and directly connected to Heaven. This was not an Omega moment. It looked like the end but it was an Alpha moment- it was new beginning! When Jesus thirsted it was so that no one would ever have to thirst again. When Jesus prayed and called by name his disciples they had no idea their names would be written on the walls of Heaven for all of eternity (Rev. 21:14). Don’t you love that? Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times, has his name written for all to see for all time. Thomas, the disciple who doubted Jesus was alive until He verify it with his own eyes, has his name written permanently in stone. In fact, all of the disciples, except for John, ran for the hills when Jesus was being crucified and yet, their names, will be on that wall when I arrive in Heaven one day. Why are their names on that wall? Because everything Jesus did on earth is permanently established in Heaven: ”28Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (Matthew 19:28-30)
Application
When my twins, Justice and Jaxon were little, there were few things more fear inducing then permanent ink. A Sharpie in the hand of a three year old strikes fear in my heart even to this day. Whether walls in the house or the side of the van, when the twins got artistic with the ink there was no amount of scrubbing that could erase their mark. There's nothing for faith building than knowing that Jesus also writes in permanent ink. When Jesus declared “It Is Finished” from The Cross and from His Throne he was declaring forgiveness for all who would believe and repent. I am one of those souls He died and rose for. One day in Heaven, I will be in awe when I see the names of the disciples on Heaven’s wall. I will be in joyful tears when I see my name written in permanent ink in the Lambs Book of Life. Jesus will wipe those tears as He pulls me close and calls me His own. When Jesus says I’m His on earth it means I am His in Heaven. No matter what happens here no one can erase what Jesus has written in His blood.
Prayer
So many promises made by those in positions of power here on earth are temporary, shallow and laden with false motives. My heart can easily become calloused, cold and reluctant to hope. Then, when I read today’s glimpse into Heaven my eyes were brightened again and my heart was reminded again that You, Jesus, are not a politician seeking office. Jesus, You are my King and You have my heart. I rejoice today that my name is written in Your Book and that, no matter how dark it may get here on earth, one day I will bask in Your glorious light. When it looks like an Omega moment, the end, it’s actually an Alpha moment- the beginning of something new! Let me see the new You are up to while I’m here on this earth.
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