Variety: Revelation 21v1-5

Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. “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.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’  REVELATION 21:1–5

 Luke Johnson is a part-time teacher, part-time church worker, and volunteer for London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.  He writes: 

I struggle with anxiety. 
 
After years of counselling and some other great resources, I’ve learned that my nervous system is very highly strung due to a combination of genetics and life events. So, I live with this constant undercurrent of anxiety. 
 
To be honest, I’ve made some pretty bad decisions as a result of being anxious, especially in the face of a car salesman! But I know at some point in the future, as I continue to see my faith as a lifelong process where my goal is to become like Jesus, anxiety will no longer be a thorny issue. 
 
Today, we’re reflecting on the incredible truth that we will be saved from sin. In theological language, this is called glorification. Where God sets everything right, both within and without, and we’re mercifully freed from the presence of sin and the anxiety it engenders.
 
Even though I know I am saved (justification) and I’m being saved (sanctification), I long for the day when the effects of sin are a distant memory (glorification).  The theologian NT Wright calls this a ‘sabbath eschatology’ or, in simpler terms, when all of creation will enter into an eternal rest.** What he means is that the Sabbath, as set out in Exodus 20, is the age to come breaking into the present age – when we’ll peer over the threshold into celebration and rest and experience God’s presence in all its fullness.
 
So much pain and suffering is caused by humans putting themselves in the place of God. Thankfully, in Revelation 21, God moves in, outs everything that we got wrong, and puts it right. My anxiety will be put right. The cancer my friend has will be put right. The grief my friend lives with will be put right.
 
Seeing our faith as a lifelong process, which ends with meeting God face to face, allows us to recognise not only where we are in this process but where others we know are, too. This creates opportunities to live in and offer the hope that knowing Jesus brings.