Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And 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.” 6 And 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. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Our journey ends at the very end of the Bible. In these two passages we get a glimpse of God's future Kingdom. It is only a glimpse. There is much we do not know but several things are very clear.

It will be amazing! God's original perfection will be restored. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. The old broken world will disappear.God will dwell among His people, not distant from them. It is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve had walked in intimate relationship with God. There will be no crying or death or mourning or pain. Can you imagine a world where there is absolutely nothing wrong? And, actually being in the presence of God?

God triumphantly declares that He is making everything new. It will happen. No one will frustrate God's plan. This is what he has been working towards.

Those who are thirsty will receive water from the spring of life, at no cost. Those who are victorious - those who persevere to the end, faithfully trusting God - will inherit all this.

Of course, that means that some do not. We didn't read the verse because it is not such good news for Christmas, but the next verse after our first reading describes those who will not enter God's new world.

There are glimpses of physical beauty (a river like crystal) but also the beauty of healing and wholeness. The water in the river is the water of life. On the banks are the tree of life which we met in the Garden of Eden. The tree of life bears a crop of fruit each month and its leaves heal the nations.

There will no longer be any curse. That is a reference to the curse that affected the whole world when sin entered.

Again, we are told that God dwells among His people. His throne and that of the Lamb (Jesus) will be in the city. His servants will serve Him. There will be no more disobedience but joyful cooperation. They will see His face. Not since the Garden has there been that sort of intimacy. No one could see God's face. In His Kingdom, however, all of God's people will know Him and see Him.

The blessings come thick and fast. His name will be on their foreheads. They will be His people - His precious possession. His glory will be so great that there will be no need for lamps or even the sun.

And they will reign for ever and ever. It doesn't say that God will reign (although he obviously will). His people will reign eternally. Adam and Eve had been given dominion in the garden. God had entrusted them with caring for, and managing, the earth. They blew it but God's people will again be given authority and power and honour. We might have to wait to find out what that looks like but God has something wonderful in store for His people.

It is an amazing reversal! God has not given up and He will not give up. His Kingdom will exist eternally. And all of it depends on Christmas. Jesus is the promised Saviour - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and makes forgiveness and reconciliation possible.

Christmas (coupled with the Cross of Easter) changed the trajectory of the world. Jesus changes the trajectory of everyone who has faith in Him.

The story ends.

For Reflection

1. Many people lack hope. They have no expectation of anything good. How would you describe the hope that Christians have?

2. What is your personal response to the promise of God's Kingdom?

Have heaps of fun together. Make it a special day. Love one another and take time to thank Jesus for all that He has done.

Dear Father, thank You that You have always wanted to restore Your relationship with us and You have planned it all out and faithfully executed it.

Dear Lord, Jesus. You are the one and only Saviour of the world. You were God's plan. There is no other. We trust in You.

Dear Holy Spirit, please enable us to remain faithful so that we might be among the millions who enjoy Your presence and enjoy Your new creation for ever and ever.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank you very much for journeying with us.

I pray that you have heard God speak

and that, like Mary,

you will treasure these things and ponder them in your heart (Luke 2:19, 51)

Have a wonderful Christmas.