The world feeds us with a steady diet of glittering messages that promise our best life now. Scripture, on the other hand, is clear that the hope of Christians ought to be fixed on God and our enjoyment of him for all eternity. I had the blessing of hearing Mark Dever preach this morning on Rev. 21:1-22:5, where he spoke of how God’s best gift to us is himself. In the new heaven and new earth, God shall dwell with us and we shall be his people–a radiant bride purchased by the precious blood of Christ.
Our best life cannot be now, because we still walk by faith and not by sight. The victory that Christ won at cross, evidenced by his resurrection from the dead, is undeniable. But we await the full consummation of all things, when death itself will be defeated at the return of our Lord in glory. In the meantime, we live expectantly–eagerly anticipating the day when we shall at last see God (Rev. 22:4), no more with the eyes of faith but face to face.
May God help us to fix our hope on Christ, as we patiently live in light of his return. May we glorify him, even as we shall one day be glorified in him.
The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face.
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace:
Not at the crown he giveth, but on his pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.
– Anne Ross Cousin, based on the letters of Samuel Rutherford
