JULY 15, 2013
Read
Backwards
Read: Revelation 21:1-7
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I
will be his God and he shall
be My son. —Revelation
21:7
I confess
that I sometimes read the end of a book before I read the beginning. Doing so
allows
me to know which characters live and which characters don’t. When I know how
it
will turn out, I’m able to relax and thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the story
and the
characters.
In a
similar way, reading the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, can
be an
encouragement and comfort for the followers of Jesus. Time and again,
Christians are
called to be overcomers (1 John 4:4; 5:4; Rev. 2:7,11,17,26;
3:5,12,21). We can be
overcomers now and will be for all eternity.
As the
apostle John talks about the revealing of the new heaven and the new earth in
Revelation (21:1), he describes what the final victory will look like for those
who have
received Jesus as Savior. At that time, we will see the end of death,
tears, sorrow, and
pain (v.4). The Lord declares: “He who overcomes shall
inherit all things, and I will be
his God and he shall be My son” (v.7). He
will dwell with us (v.3), and He will “make
all things new” (v.5).
When the
trials of today seem more daunting than your strength, let the Lord show you
the
end of the story when you will be in His presence forever!
Stand
up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle—the next the victor’s song.
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally. —Duffield
For
hope today, remember the end of the story— eternity with God.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2013
