Day 117 · Year 1 · The Story of Scripture
He is making all things new
The Bible ends with a wedding, not an evacuation.
Today's passage
Revelation 21:1-5
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
4‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”
Berean Standard Bible · public domain
Reflection
The biblical story does not end with souls escaping to a disembodied heaven. It ends with heaven coming down — a new heavens and a new earth, a holy city, God dwelling with people, every tear personally wiped away. 'Behold, I am making all things new.' That is not 'all new things' but 'all things new.' Your body, your relationships, your half-finished obediences — they will be made new, not discarded. That is the future Christian hope leans toward. Anything good you do today plants something that will be raised.
From the great tradition · paraphrased
C. S. Lewis · Modern · 20th c. · England
C. S. Lewis pictured the new creation as the place where every joy on earth turns out to have been a foretaste — and where chapter one of the real story finally begins.
Paraphrase only. Scripture, not any teacher, is the authority.
Think it through
- What does John see come down out of heaven, and what does God do in verses 3–4?
- What does it change to know that God is making 'all things new,' not 'all new things'?
- What good work, however small, do you want to keep doing in light of that future?
A prayer to pray
Lift your eyes to the day every tear is wiped away. Ask God to give you courage to do today's small obediences as planting for that day.