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Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21)
Have you ever sought to know God better? Whether you are a veteran, or brand new in the Christian journey (or somewhere in between), we all need to draw closer to God. In fact this is what we are called to do when we come to faith in Christ Jesus. See, the Christian walk is really one of pursuing God. Though, God in his sovereignty makes himself known to us, yet we are called to seek him, to desire to know him more and to cultivate a relationship with him.
But a relationship is something that takes work, and may fluctuate in intensity. In the natural sphere of human activity, we need to work at our relationships to feel close people. Whether it be with a romantic interest, a child or a co-worker, relationships take effort. But despite our best efforts, often we let the people we care about down (or vice versa). In fact, rarely does any relationship, even a really strong one, exist without its emotional ups and down.
Relating with God is somewhat similar, where we let him down, or may feel that he has forgotten about us. Like with our human counterparts, this roller coaster of emotions tend to affect our passion for God. That is why I love to recharge in my own walk with God, where periodically I shut out voices, isolate myself, and spend time with God. I find during these times I feel closer to God, and I am recharged, and get reconnected to God’s purpose for my life.
While our efforts to connect with God are somewhat rewarding God promises so much more, as we see in this passage.
See, we were created to live with God, and that is what we are promised in the new age, as all things are made new. When Adam sinned in the garden he disqualified himself from an abiding fellowship with God, where God would closely walk with him in fellowship. With the advent of Jesus and his resurrection, those who place saving faith in Christ are (spiritually speaking) like Adam in the Garden, where God can fellowship with us, spirit to spirit. However this is but a shadow of what is to come. Our spiritual connection with God though abiding, is constrained by our fallen flesh. Our thoughts, the world we live in, and everything around us seem to prevent us from fully realizing the spiritual connection we have with God in all facets of our being. Thus sometimes Christ seems very far away (though he is in our hearts).
It is only in the new age, where God will dwell literally with us that we can experience him fully, not just in our spirits, but out minds and bodies.
This dwelling comes via the New Jerusalem, in the days of the new heaven and earth. In this era, we will no longer feel separated from God.
There will be no more sin, thus nothing to feel guilt about that may cause us to hide in shame from him. We will not be tired for we will have our immortal bodies, and thus there will be no excuse to hinder us from being with him perpetually.
Until that day, continue to pursue God, and as you do may you find him to be so close, and so fulfilling
– Pastor Olu Jegede