The Goal

Today’s Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 40-41; Psalm 128; Revelation 21

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:

Topic: Salvation

SCRIPTURE:  Revelation 21:1-8

¹ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev 21:1-8 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Verse 7 of this passage has to be the goal:

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

John is talking about the new heaven and new earth (v.1)—life after this earthly life. This life is like a proving ground. Will I spend this life toiling and treading and never discovering the key? Will I spend this life selfishly pursuing the comforts of this life with no thought of the next? If I do, then this life will be a waste and I will be eternally lost.

However…

APPLICATION:

If I overcome in this life—that is discovering the key is relationship with the Lord now and spending this life not for this lifetime but for the next—then God will be my God forevermore and I will be His son. That is the goal in this life!

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You that in You I can be an overcomer no matter what comes my way in this life, and that I may eternally be Your son. Through Christ. Amen  –AP