New and Unlimited

Today's reading: Revelation 21:1-27

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4 ESV

Isn't it limitations that frustrate us so much in this life? We have limited time and energy. We can only go so long before making a mistake (we've made many). We are limited on how many days we can go without food and water. We have a limited amount of time with those we love. Even when it comes to creativity, we could be on such a great roll, yet we run out of material, daylight, or stamina. When we are mourning or crying, it is impossible to focus on anything else; it feels like we are in the mud.

As John writes, he leans heavily on language from Isaiah 65 (see especially verses 15 and 17). It is wild to think that God has known what the new heavens and new earth will look like from the beginning, but now John is allowed to get a greater picture that was first revealed, in an even smaller part, to Isaiah.

The picture given is that when we are (on that glorious day) fully in the presence of God, all of our limitations will be removed. Everything will be new and ready for us to praise, create, love, and focus, without the fear of danger or our own weaknesses. Not to mention that our enemy, the Devil, won't be around to start this cycle all over again (see our post from yesterday).

Why doesn't God call it all quits and start this "new" activity today? (He might!)

Verse 8 is the key. There are more within all of these lifestyles now being given more time to repent (2 Peter 3:9). May we not waste this time. May we be ever-reaching those who are currently rejecting Jesus.