Good news . . . bad news . . . good news . . .

The past few days have brought down-up-down-up news in our family. My sister fell and broke her hip on Christmas day, had surgery the next day without complications, but yesterday was not a good one. I’m not sure what the next text or phone call will bring, but I am certain that I want good news. She lives four hours away and our plan is to go see her as soon as she can have visitors. One prior issue; she lost the ability to talk much more than a few words but is still mentally sharp, not had a stroke. I cannot imagine her frustration.

This morning’s Bible reading brings good news. I am eager for this event when our struggles will be over and my sister and I can swap stories as we behold our Lord and Savior, our mutual best friend.

This is what He revealed to John about the best news ever:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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 21:1–4)

This was also promised at least 600 years before Jesus was born as well as in the New Testament:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

“For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.” (Isaiah 66:22)

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10–13)

Other than “no sea” little is said except that the people of God will live in this new earth. Expositors differ on the timeline, but using the principle that clear passages should be used to explain obscure passages, the second coming of Christ is followed by a thousand-year reign on earth (which includes the sea), and this in turn is followed by a new heaven and new earth, the dwelling place for God’s people forever.

After this revelation, God gives another one, partly good news but ending with bad news, at least for some:

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:5–8)

This passage does not affirm salvation by works but restates that works indicate one’s spiritual status. Many will be in heaven who were guilty of these sins but turned from them after trusting Christ as their Savior. Though works are the evidence of salvation or lack of it, they are never the basis or ground of it.

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Lord Jesus, will I miss this world and its beauty? Certainly not the messy sinful part of it. Here, I’ll walk a beach aware that no sea may mean no beaches, but I’ve a feeling that this new world will be magnificent; beaches will be a moot point. The good news of the former things passing away is my hope, our hope. As the world deteriorates along with godliness and love for Jesus and His people, my heart longs for the glories and perfection of this eternal dwelling place — and to see my Savior’s face. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- the joy in my heart when reading God’s promises.

- good news about my sister; she is showing improvement.

- lots of pattern sales this week with most logged in and nearly ready to mail.

- the ability to exercise without too much strain!

Two judgments: one for Christians and one for . . .

The older I get, the more I want to ‘finish well’ — meaning that I’d like to have the assurance that I did all that God wanted me to do. Yet God reminds me to avoid that focus. As Paul wrote:

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. (1 Corinthians 4:4–5)

He is referring to a judgment that is not about salvation, eternal life, or to determine my eternal destiny. The Bible is clear; Christians are judged, but not the same way as those who have refused God’s offer of salvation through faith in His Son. Our eternal destiny is determined by faith (see Ephesians 2:8–9). One verse alone says it well:  

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

However, I will be judged concerning the things I have done because of my faith. At that judgment (called the “bema” seat of Christ) my life of service will be reviewed. Some loss will be experienced because of worthless activities, but I will be rewarded for whatever endures this test . . .

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10–15)

Today in Revelation I’m reading about a second judgment, the one called the Great White Throne and am reminded that those who believe in Jesus Christ will not experience it.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades (the grave) gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11–15)

This passage makes me shudder. This fate is not God’s choice. The Bible says He is not willing that anyone should perish. This desire is the reason why He sent Jesus to take our punishment for us, to offer us eternal life. The issue is not God’s love but human responses to it. Those who say NO to His offer are choosing where they will spend eternity.

This means only two destinies for human souls; one is to be with the Lord and the other is to be forever separated from God in the lake of fire. This is motivation for believers to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth whatever the cost and doing everything possible to inform and challenge people to receive Christ before it is too late.

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Jesus, I cannot write any more. I am glad that You came and You granted me eternal life. I know I’ve wasted some of the precious time of this life, but I also know that I will spend forever with You. Yet this passage explains the motivation we have to reach those who are in that ‘valley of decision’ and save them from perishing. I never feel equipped for that task, but I can pray and support those who are. May I be faithful to do as You ask, not just for the rewards at the Bema judgment but to reduce the numbers that will stand before You at that Great White Throne.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- that God gives me a burden to tell others about Jesus.

- that our lives are in His good hands.

- my sister is not doing well but being well cared for.

- a warm home and comfortable bed (I’m really tired).

- family memories.

One day — no more bad news!

My hubby spreads the newspaper out on his desk every morning. I was there today and read the headlines as he turned the pages. Our world is in a mess. Locally, on Christmas day, there were shootings, robberies, terrible accidents, the usual political conflicts and wars far worse. People hurt people. Selfishness steals common sense and common courtesy. Yes, good things happen, but for a newspaper “if it bleeds, it leads.” This indicates how media appeals to the worst in us, thinking that no one cares about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and excellent. (Philippians 4:8) The assumption is that readers crave lies, muck, and sensationalism.

I usually read the comics first (and skip some strips that are always downers) and do the Sudoku puzzle. If time permits, I’ll maybe hit a few stories if the headline holds promise, but mostly am stressed by the mess. Reading Revelation helps me remember that one day it will come to an end; the mess will be no more.

At the end of this last book in the New Testament, God reveals to John the fate of the one who is responsible for much of the deception in this world. This section describes a time of a thousand years. Is it literal? Bible interpreters disagree. It could be, or it could be a symbolic description: 

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:1–6)

The time and sequence do not matter to me as much as what Jesus Christ will be doing. He stops this Liar and Deceiver from messing with people and nations. He raises from the dead those who have been martyred for their faith. He reigns over the world with His people and for us there is no second death! Try to imagine the headlines in the news when this happens — or the next events . . .

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7–10)

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Jesus, there is such contrast between the world’s description of events and Your words, or even the words of Christmas carols. Right now we have no silent night, no peace on earth, no lasting goodwill to men, no resounding joy. We also have nations engaged in treating one another without consideration, only exploitation and the attitude of “what’s in it for me.” Though the wrong seems oft so strong, I know You are the Ruler yet, and You are not done with this planet or the evil that grips it. You give us great hope and anticipation because You will return and set it right. That old Liar will be punished for all eternity. We have Your promises and Your track record. My heart leans toward You and Your grace for I know that Jesus wins.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- God gives us a glimpse of the end when all wrong is put where it belongs.

- God’s care for my sister who now must deal with a broken hip and not being able to talk.

- much talk and texting with family and much prayer for our concerns.

- a big God who can do great things.

- a lighter note (pun intended) I didn’t gain a pound after feasting so much this past few days!

- thoughtfulness of our children and grandchildren.