The Great Story | Revelation 21

Welcome to Real Life. What was real life supposed to look like before our world was broken by sin? The final chapters of Revelation give us a glimpse.

The theme of the Bible is redemption – God calling man back to himself – restoring the relationship that was lost. We were created to know and live in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. But, when they chose to sin – that sin separated them from a holy God. So he sent his Son to pay the penalty for that sin on the cross. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice, we are cleansed, forgiven, and clothed in his righteousness. We can once again enter the presence of our holy God. The lost relationship is restored.

However, we still live in a sinful world. Even though I follow Christ, I still stumble and fall into sin. My perfect relationship with God is not perfectly restored … yet. In this broken world, I can’t always see God. I can’t always feel his presence. It can be like trying to make out his features through a foggy window.[1] 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.[2]

But in the kingdom to come, I will see God clearly. I will walk with him as Adam and Eve did in the garden. My continual battle against the sin that separates me from God’s presence will be over – forever. I will never again taste the bitterness of shame and regret. I will never pierce another with my sharp words or insensitive actions. The ever present temptation to worry, fear, be selfish and vain will vanish. I will never feel alone. I will be with God. I will dwell securely enveloped in his love, joy, and peace. 

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.[3]

This promise grew especially precious this week as I read it to my dying mother. I will never again sit helplessly watching and praying over a dearly loved one who is suffering. The deep ache of grief in my heart will cease. I will never plan another funeral. I will once again hug and kiss and love-on those who’ve left this world: dear Momma, Dad Tustan, Grandma Eskra, Uncle Laco, Linda, Annette and many others. Morphine, antibiotics, anti-depressants, chemotherapy, physicians, hospitals and nursing homes will not exist. My tears will only express joy. Hallelujah!

The old story of this broken world that I know so well will come to its final page. A new adventure in “The Great Story” will begin: 

“And, for this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But, for them, it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover, and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on Earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
―C. S. Lewis from The Final Battle

This post is dedicated to my dear mother, Mary Salva. She departed from this world on Sunday, November 4, 2012. All of her joys and sorrows and experiences in this life had only been the cover and title page. Her first chapter in “The Great Story” has now begun! 

Jesus said, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”[4]