Wednesday, August 20, 2014

THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH: Devotional from "Am I Okay, God?" by Lorilyn Roberts


And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and he will dwell among them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be among them, and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

—Revelation 21:3-5


Would you like to visit the garden in Seventh Dimension – The Door? Evil lurked in that garden, but when Jesus returns, he will create a new earth free of sin.

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From Seventh Dimension – The Door, a Young Adult Christian Fantasy:
Evening came. I wanted to love but I was unwilling to give up my hate. Could the king’s words penetrate my hardened heart? What joy would fill me if I surrendered everything to the king?
Baruch nudged me with his nose. “Where do we go now, Miss Shale?”
The crowds were leaving to return to their homes. I didn’t feel like I had one. I closed my eyes and prayed. “If I’m a daughter of the king, please forgive me. I’m sorry for my wrong attitude.”
Nothing changed on the outside, but I felt better on the inside.”
—Shale Snyder, chapter thirty-two

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While I can’t change the world I face each day, I can cleanse my thoughts through reading the Bible. I can pray when I am driving, when I am cooking, or when I rise or go to bed. I can confess to God my pain when I feel overwhelmed by the unexplained darkness—when bad things happen.

By allowing God to work in my heart, I can gain a heavenly perspective, lifting my spirit from the gutter that robs me of my joy.

Take a few moments and imagine what God is preparing for you. Your negative thoughts can be redeemed, helping you to live each day with renewed hope for a brighter future.

Someday, God’s new heaven and new earth will rise from the ashes following the greatest war ever fought in the universe. God and his angelic warriors will fight in the last battle against Satan and the demons of darkness. Earth will be the battleground and man the prized possession.

While man’s salvation is already secured by Jesus’ death and resurrection, the finality of souls’ destination is only within God’s purview. Satan does not know; neither does he know everything you think. Satan is not omniscient. He has nothing to lose—except you.

Even as the battle wages, once we accept Jesus, we can rejoice. We can know for certain where we will live for eternity.

Where is heaven? A place where our failures will no longer paralyze us; where perfect love casts out fear, pure joy abounds with unceasing laughter, and unfettered peace will last forever. It’s but one heartbeat away for those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Until we enter heaven’s gates, we have to deal with sin. The curse, passed down from Adam and Eve, plagues all creatures. Everything eventually dies.

The best thing about heaven is Jesus lives there—as king. No more elections, no more dictators, and no more czars. He said he was going to prepare a place for his followers, and someday he would return and take us back with him.

What will we see, and what will we look like?

Heaven is inhabited by millions of beautiful angelic creatures. When we pass through heaven’s gates, we will be clothed in spiritual bodies that will no longer be physically imperfect but eternally perfect.

Some saints will shine brighter than others, depending on their faithfulness to God, just as some stars appear brighter in the night sky. There will be rewards for our good works and for bringing others into the kingdom.

In heaven, there’s no competition for food or toll for survival—even in the animal kingdom.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
—Romans 8:22  

The wolf and the lamb will feed beside each other Children will play with lions. The sound of crying will never be heard again. The old order of things will have passed away. When God wipes away our tears, our afflictions and troubles will no longer be remembered.

Heaven is never dark because the glory of God gives it light. The New Jerusalem will radiate with the majesty of God. The city will be built of gold, pure as glass. The foundations of the walls will glitter with precious gems and the twelve gates made of pearl will greet city visitors. Nothing impure will ever enter the city.



The River of Life will flow from God’s throne, and the Tree of Life in the city square will bear a different fruit each month. Its leaves will be for the healing of nations. Whatever we have here will be even better there—in beauty, fullness, and purity.

Heaven in Revelation has many mysteries beyond our understanding. The four winds who obey God and the four creatures who give praise to our heavenly father—who are they?

The Bible doesn’t give us a map to heaven, but in Genesis 28:12, Jacob “had a dream, and …a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and … the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.”

In Revelation 4:1, John saw an open door to heaven; and in Acts 7:56, Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  

Because it’s impossible for anything defiled or sinful to enter through the gates, it would have been impossible for anyone to go there if God had not provided a way. God said in Leviticus 26:12, “I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.”  

Today we battle against the unseen powers of darkness—the prince of the air and his demonic minions. But through the Holy Spirit, we have a taste of heaven here. When we receive Jesus into our hearts, the Comforter indwells us. The Spirit whispers to us in our sleep, comforts us in our pain, and implores us never to give up.

The Bible reminds us of God’s unwavering truth. Thousands of years of attacks upon it and God’s chosen have strengthened the validity of the Bible’s claims. Even the rocks would cry out in praise to the heavenly father if it were possible.

When Jesus hung on the cross, he said to one of the two thieves beside him, “Truly, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). I take comfort in the fact that for the last two thousand years, Jesus has been preparing a place for you and for me.

Someday heavenly music will fill our ears. We will splash with joy in heavenly waters emanating from God’s throne and walk on streets of gold. We will be reunited with those who have gone before us. We will feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb, and all those whose names are written in the Book of Life will see the face of God.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
— John 16:33

What a glorious eternity awaits us. Until that day, let not the heartaches of this world discourage us from remembering the richness of God’s grace here—found in Jesus Christ.


I am thankful I am a daughter (or son) of the king. I am thankful that my salvation is assured through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Help me to honor the king in all my ways so that he may be glorified— until I enter the pearl gates of heaven.




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