FEB 22

Revelation 21:3
Memorise Revelation 21:3b
“God himself shall be with them and be their God.”

When we think of a tabernacle, we are reminded of the tabernacle in the wilderness when the children of Israel made their forty-year journey to the Promised Land. It was a tent built specially to God’s specifications and was a symbol of God dwelling with His people. Also, during their journey to the Promised Land, the Israelites had the very presence of God with them, a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (Exodus 40:34–38). Revelation 21:3 alludes to this time in history when God was present with His people in a visible physical form. The other time this happened was when Jesus Christ lived on earth as God taking on the form of a man. Here we are told that in eternity, Christ will once again dwell with us in the New Jerusalem after He comes again.

How wonderful a description we have in Revelation 21:3, telling us of how God will dwell with us. We will be His people and He will be our God.We will see Him every day and enjoy being in His presence for eternity. No longer will He be far off. No longer will He be “veiled” in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. No longer will His people approach Him with fear and trembling in the Holy of Holies only once a year. No longer will we have the great gulf of sin separating us and God. Just like God walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden, seeking him in the cool of the day, He will be in heaven with us continually.

Does the idea of eternity with God excite you? It is no doubt difficult to imagine what eternity is like as we are finite beings who live in time and space. Many Christians are so caught up with their lives on this earth and the cares of the present that they forget that their lives on earth are only temporary. When we are living with Christ in the future, our lives on this earth will be such a distant memory. How then should we live our lives on this earth, seeing that it is but a transient abode? Let us watch ourselves and each other as we sojourn on this earth as it is often a gradual slipping away as a Christian loses sight of his eternal home.Forget not to fellowship and encourage one another. Let us constantly remind ourselves of where our home truly is.

Thought: If God calls you home today, will you be ready to leave?
Prayer: Help me to examine my heart honestly, O Lord. Do I truly look forward to a life of eternity with You? Or have I become too caught up in this present world?