WEBVTT

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 Flip to the end and you'll find it.

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 There you go, Revelation 21 and 22.

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 But let me encourage you to turn there, actually,

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 because I want us to be able to see some of the riches that are here for us.

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 You know, I think it's pretty common that as another year ends,

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 we're all taking stock of where we've come

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 and perhaps where we're headed in the year to come.

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 And I think this is a time when we sort of look over the last year

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 and we start thinking about the story of our life

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 and where that story is headed.

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 But, you know, I think it's very easy as we consider our own stories

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 and the different paths that our life takes,

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 it's very easy to lose sight of where the greater story is headed,

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 the story that God is bringing about in history,

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 and the story that all of us are a part of,

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 whether we realize it or not.

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 This is the story that the Bible tells.

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 After all, the Bible isn't primarily a book of rules, right?

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 There are a lot of rules there.

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 There are a lot of commands that tell us how life works best.

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 But at its core, that's not primarily what the Bible is.

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 The Bible is actually essentially a grand narrative,

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 the true story of the world,

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 and more importantly of the God who made the world

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 and where he's taking us.

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 And of course it matters greatly how the story ends, doesn't it?

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 I mean in the here and now, right?

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 That the future actually shapes our present, doesn't it?

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 At least what we know about the future.

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 We did a lot of driving over the last week.

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 It got me thinking about driving in the car.

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 And you know there's a big difference, right,

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 between driving in your car on the way to a Christmas party

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 or on the way to a New Year's Eve party, right,

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 or driving to the dentist.

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 There's a qualitative difference in your experience of that journey

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 depending on what your destination is.

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 One's typically pretty joyful,

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 the other is typically fairly dreadful.

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 Sorry, Jonathan.

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 But it goes deeper than that, doesn't it?

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 Knowing how the story ends changes

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 not just our sort of experience in the here and now,

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 but the meaning of the here and now.

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 When you know that Romeo and Juliet both end up dying in the end,

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 sorry for the spoiler alert if you haven't read that one,

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 then the whole story, even the funny parts,

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 get colored by tragedy.

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 And vice versa.

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 When you know that there's a grand resolution

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 of the parts,

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 then even the tragic parts sort of have a different shade

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 and a different color, don't they?

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 In other words, the future helps us

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 to actually understand rightly the present.

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 I think today as Christians,

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 we don't think enough about the future

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 that God has in store for us.

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 I think perhaps we've become too timid,

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 maybe thinking that if we talk too much about our hope,

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 people will just think that Christianity is

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 pie in the sky,

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 by and by,

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 an opiate for the masses,

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 with no teeth to really change here and now.

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 I think sometimes we get so anxious to affirm

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 that Christianity is about more

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 than just going to heaven when we die,

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 that we've stopped talking about our hope altogether,

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 including the really good news

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 that we actually go to heaven when we die, Christ.

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 But you know, again and again,

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 the New Testament calls us

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 to dwell upon our hope.

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 In Ephesians 1, Paul prays this great prayer

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 that the eyes of our hearts

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 would be enlightened,

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 that we would know,

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 really know,

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 deep in our bones,

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 in an experiential way,

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 the hope to which God has called us.

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 I wonder if much of our difficulty

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 in living the Christian life here and now

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 is because we don't know,

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 really know,

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 where Christ is taking us.

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 After all, right,

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 the Bible tells us to be people of love,

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 and joy,

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 and patience,

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 and kindness,

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 and generosity,

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 and faithfulness.

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 But most of the time,

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 we think we're on our way to the dentist,

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 as opposed to on our way

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 to the party.

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 And no one's very loving

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 and joyful

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 when they're on their way to the dentist.

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 But you know,

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 the apostles in the early church

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 understood this dynamic.

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 They weren't ashamed to talk

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 time and time again

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 and to celebrate the future

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 that Christ had won for His people.

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 They knew that our hope

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 wasn't just the grid

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 through which we could understand the present,

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 but that our hope

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 was also the fuel

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 to help us live

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 rightly in the present.

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 So with all that being said,

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 let's look then

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 at our hope.

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 The hope that God has in store for us

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 as His people.

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 Turn with me to Revelation 21.

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 Look down there with me.

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 We're not going to read

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 all of these two chapters,

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 just some selections.

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 Let me read this for us.

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 John writes this.

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 He says,

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 Then I saw a new heaven

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 and a new earth.

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 This is the beginning of 21.

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 For the first heaven

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 and the first earth

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 had passed away

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 and the sea was no more.

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 And I saw the holy city,

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 New Jerusalem,

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 coming down out of heaven

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 from God,

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 prepared as a bride,

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 adorned for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice

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 from the throne saying,

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 Behold,

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 the dwelling place of God

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 is with man.

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 He will dwell with them

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 and they will be His people

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 and God Himself

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 will be with them

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 as their God.

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 He will wipe away

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 every tear from their eyes

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 and death shall be no more.

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 Neither shall there be mourning

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 nor crying nor pain anymore

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 for the former things

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 have passed away.

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 And He who is seated

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 on the throne said,

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 Behold,

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 I'm making all things new.

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 Skip down to verse 22.

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 And I saw no temple

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 in the city

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 for its temple

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 is the Lord God

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 the Almighty

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 and the Lamb.

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 And the city

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 has no need of sun

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 or moon to shine on it

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 for the glory of God

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 gives its light

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 and its lamp

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 is the Lamb.

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 By its light

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 will the nations walk

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 and the kings of the earth

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 will bring their glory

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 into it

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 and its gates

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 will never be shut by day

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 and there will be

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 no night there

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 and they will bring into it

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 the glory and honor

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 of the nations

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 but nothing unclean

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 will ever enter it

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 nor anyone who does

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 what is detestable

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 or false.

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 But only those

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 who are written

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 in the Lamb's book of life.

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 Then the angel

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 showed me the river

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 of the water of life

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 bright as crystal

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 flowing from the throne

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 of God and of the Lamb

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 through the middle

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 of the street of the city

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 and also on either side

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 of the river

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 the tree of life

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 with its twelve kinds of fruit

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 yielding its fruit

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 each month

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 the leaves of the tree

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 were for the healing

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 of the nations.

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 No longer will there be

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 anything accursed

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 but the throne of God

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 and of the Lamb

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 will be in it

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 and His servants

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 will worship Him.

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 They will see His face

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 and His name

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 will be on their foreheads

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 and night will be no more.

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 They will need no light

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 of lamp or sun

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 for the Lord God

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 will be their light

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 and they will reign

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 forever

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 and ever.

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 So what does this

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 stunning picture

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 of our future

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 tell us about life

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 here and now?

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 A lot more than we could

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 cover in one sitting

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 but for now

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 let me just point to

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 three things

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 as we think about

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 this passage.

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 And the first is this

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 because of how

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 this story ends

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 because of how

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 your and my story ends

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 we can know

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 first that the tears

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 of this life

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 are temporary.

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 One of the first things

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 we're told

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 about the new heaven

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 and the new earth

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 is what's not there

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 right?

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 Verse 21

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 chapter 21

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 verse 1

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 He says

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 and the sea

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 was no more.

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 Now I admit

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 that's a pretty strange

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 detail at first

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 right?

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 For us

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 the sea

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 is where we go

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 for vacation

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 and if you're like me

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 you get there

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 and you go

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 and you get a sunburn

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 and it's not really

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 that much fun

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 but my wife likes it

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 so we go.

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 What's so bad

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 about the sea?

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 We have to realize

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 that in the Bible

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 the sea

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 the ocean

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 is often an image

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 of chaos

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 and danger.

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 The ancient Israelites

00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:29.959
 were not a seafaring people.

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 In fact

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 whenever they needed

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 to cross a body of water

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 God parts it for them

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 and they go across

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 on dry land.

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 Did you realize that?

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 So what John

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 is saying here

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 in a symbolic way

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 is that the confusion

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 and sorrows

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 and tears

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 of this life

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 the oceans

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 of it

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 that we have known

00:08:49.419 --> 00:08:51.339
 on that day

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 will at last

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 be done away with.

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 As he says

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 in verse 5

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 God

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 will make

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 all things

00:08:58.639 --> 00:08:59.139
 new.

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 And then there's

00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:02.599
 this incredibly

00:09:02.599 --> 00:09:03.679
 intimate image

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 in verse 4

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 He will wipe away

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 every tear

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 from their eyes.

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 Every tear.

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 every tear

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 of loneliness

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 every tear

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 of regret

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 every tear

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 of grief

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 and loss

00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:25.079
 everyone

00:09:25.079 --> 00:09:26.720
 He says.

00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:28.399
 The tears

00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.379
 everyone has seen

00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:30.679
 and the tears

00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.519
 no one has seen

00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.519
 and the tears

00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:33.980
 you didn't even

00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:34.519
 remember

00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:36.620
 and the tears

00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.539
 you never could forget

00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:40.240
 everyone

00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.600
 wiped away.

00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.639
 Isn't it incredible

00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:43.500
 that the first

00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:44.279
 thing

00:09:44.279 --> 00:09:45.460
 God does

00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:46.080
 when we're

00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:46.940
 in His presence

00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:47.580
 in the new heaven

00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:48.340
 and the new earth

00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:49.019
 is this.

00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:51.180
 If you know

00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:51.960
 the book of Revelation

00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:52.420
 you know that

00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:53.019
 at this point

00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:53.540
 in the book

00:09:53.540 --> 00:09:55.040
 God has judged

00:09:55.040 --> 00:09:56.100
 the world

00:09:56.100 --> 00:09:57.740
 and renewed

00:09:57.740 --> 00:09:58.940
 the cosmos

00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:00.519
 and descended

00:10:00.519 --> 00:10:01.220
 into the midst

00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:01.899
 of His people

00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:03.139
 and what does

00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.180
 this almighty

00:10:04.180 --> 00:10:04.980
 sovereign

00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:05.860
 God

00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:06.500
 do?

00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.879
 He comes

00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:10.460
 like a gentle

00:10:10.460 --> 00:10:10.940
 father

00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.300
 and begins

00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:13.200
 wiping the tears

00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.300
 away from His people.

00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:16.940
 You see friends

00:10:16.940 --> 00:10:17.300
 there will come

00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:17.800
 a day

00:10:17.800 --> 00:10:19.540
 when our sorrows

00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:20.320
 cease.

00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.220
 He'll wipe

00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:22.040
 them away.

00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.260
 When death

00:10:24.260 --> 00:10:25.140
 shall be no more

00:10:25.140 --> 00:10:26.500
 when pain

00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:26.920
 is a thing

00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:27.660
 of the past

00:10:27.660 --> 00:10:29.600
 our tears

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.260
 in this life

00:10:30.260 --> 00:10:31.160
 are temporary.

00:10:33.040 --> 00:10:33.620
 And I think

00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:33.880
 that means

00:10:33.880 --> 00:10:34.340
 two things

00:10:34.340 --> 00:10:34.800
 for us

00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:35.420
 in the here

00:10:35.420 --> 00:10:35.780
 and now.

00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:38.740
 If the tears

00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.460
 are temporary

00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:40.720
 and that means

00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:41.379
 we can face

00:10:41.379 --> 00:10:41.759
 them now

00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:42.580
 with courage.

00:10:43.540 --> 00:10:43.820
 Right?

00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:45.259
 When pain

00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:45.660
 and sorrows

00:10:45.660 --> 00:10:46.139
 come

00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:46.840
 when grief

00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:47.240
 and loss

00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:47.660
 come

00:10:47.660 --> 00:10:47.920
 as the

00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:48.220
 inevitable

00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.620
 do

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.259
 we can

00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:49.759
 know

00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.360
 that it's

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:50.920
 not going

00:10:50.920 --> 00:10:51.240
 to be

00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:51.660
 this way

00:10:51.660 --> 00:10:52.100
 forever.

00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:52.759
 That it's

00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:53.680
 not the last

00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:54.259
 word.

00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:54.900
 That God

00:10:54.900 --> 00:10:55.600
 isn't going

00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.180
 to forget.

00:10:57.780 --> 00:10:58.280
 That like a

00:10:58.280 --> 00:10:58.860
 father He will

00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.180
 one day

00:10:59.180 --> 00:10:59.600
 wipe them

00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:00.139
 all away.

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:00.720
 The psalmist

00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:00.920
 says

00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:01.259
 though the

00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:01.759
 sorrows

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.659
 last

00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:03.279
 for the

00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:03.600
 night

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.480
 joy

00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.279
 comes

00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:05.620
 in the

00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:05.920
 morning.

00:11:07.420 --> 00:11:07.940
 And that

00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:08.300
 gives us

00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:09.019
 great courage

00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:09.960
 to face

00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.220
 our sorrows.

00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:13.379
 But it also

00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:13.860
 means I think

00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:14.240
 a second

00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:14.940
 deeper thing.

00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.040
 As we look

00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:17.360
 at the new

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:17.800
 heavens and the

00:11:17.800 --> 00:11:18.100
 new earth

00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:18.340
 and as we

00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:19.019
 see that our

00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:19.460
 tears are

00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:19.840
 temporary

00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.399
 it means

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.120
 that right

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:21.560
 now we

00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:22.320
 can trust

00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:22.700
 Him

00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.940
 in the

00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.259
 pain.

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:26.980
 After all

00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:27.279
 there isn't

00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:27.919
 a single

00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:28.699
 tear that

00:11:28.699 --> 00:11:29.439
 God permits

00:11:29.439 --> 00:11:29.839
 in our

00:11:29.839 --> 00:11:30.699
 lives that

00:11:30.699 --> 00:11:31.259
 He won't

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:31.799
 on that

00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:32.240
 day

00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:33.179
 personally

00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.179
 wipe away.

00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:36.740
 You know

00:11:36.740 --> 00:11:37.179
 it helps to

00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:37.720
 realize that

00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.000
 the book

00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:38.579
 of Revelation

00:11:38.579 --> 00:11:39.759
 was originally

00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:40.600
 written to

00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:41.039
 a group of

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.459
 churches

00:11:41.459 --> 00:11:42.959
 not who

00:11:42.959 --> 00:11:43.639
 were you

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.019
 know holding

00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:44.500
 prophecy

00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.279
 conferences and

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:45.899
 speculating about

00:11:45.899 --> 00:11:46.199
 the last

00:11:46.199 --> 00:11:47.019
 times right.

00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:47.899
 The book

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.379
 of Revelation

00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:48.919
 was written

00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.480
 to a group

00:11:49.480 --> 00:11:50.000
 of churches

00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:50.579
 that were

00:11:50.579 --> 00:11:51.159
 suffering.

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:53.500
 And as

00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:53.980
 John tells

00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:54.279
 them they're

00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:54.659
 about to

00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:55.600
 undergo a lot

00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.480
 more in

00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:56.799
 the days

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.179
 ahead.

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.000
 You see

00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.459
 the message

00:11:59.459 --> 00:12:00.059
 of Revelation

00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:00.899
 is a message

00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:02.159
 for sufferers

00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:02.720
 for the

00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.379
 afflicted

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:03.939
 for the

00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:04.539
 persecuted

00:12:04.539 --> 00:12:05.039
 and the

00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:05.379
 weary.

00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:06.179
 And in

00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:06.679
 the whole

00:12:06.679 --> 00:12:07.139
 book

00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:07.799
 if you were

00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:08.199
 to sum

00:12:08.199 --> 00:12:08.639
 it up

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.059
 God

00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:09.539
 basically

00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.059
 says

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:10.939
 trust

00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:11.279
 me

00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.339
 I'm

00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:12.639
 still

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:12.839
 in

00:12:12.839 --> 00:12:13.399
 control

00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:14.159
 and I

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.659
 haven't

00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.079
 forgotten

00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:15.459
 you.

00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:16.860
 And I'm

00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:17.199
 bringing

00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.019
 this story

00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:18.459
 to a

00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:19.059
 conclusion

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.500
 so glorious

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.399
 and so

00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:22.019
 good

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:22.720
 and so

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:23.299
 fitting

00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:24.199
 that every

00:12:24.199 --> 00:12:24.720
 loss

00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:25.279
 and every

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:25.720
 tear

00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.279
 will be

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:26.759
 swallowed

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.220
 up

00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:27.860
 in

00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:28.200
 joy.

00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.080
 It's

00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:31.379
 just like

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:31.679
 Isaiah

00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:32.080
 said

00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:32.539
 in our

00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:32.779
 reading

00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:33.319
 earlier

00:12:33.319 --> 00:12:35.139
 he will

00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:35.580
 swallow

00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:35.899
 up

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.460
 death

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.460
 forever

00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:39.159
 and the

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.559
 Lord God

00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:39.939
 will wipe

00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:40.519
 away tears

00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:40.899
 from all

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.340
 faces.

00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:43.500
 And Paul

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.000
 in 1 Corinthians

00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:44.799
 15 looking

00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:44.980
 looking at

00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:45.580
 that same

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.120
 passage

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.580
 in Isaiah

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:46.980
 puts it

00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.440
 this way

00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:48.360
 death

00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:49.320
 is swallowed

00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:49.759
 up

00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:50.279
 in

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:50.840
 victory.

00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.379
 Friends

00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:54.759
 if our

00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.480
 tears

00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:56.120
 and our

00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.559
 death

00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:56.899
 are going

00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:57.179
 to be

00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:57.740
 swallowed

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.259
 up

00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.799
 in

00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.279
 victory

00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:01.019
 then we

00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:01.559
 can trust

00:13:01.559 --> 00:13:01.840
 him in

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:02.379
 the tears.

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:04.879
 He's going

00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.600
 to swallow

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.279
 them up

00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:07.720
 and make

00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:08.500
 them a part

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.120
 of his

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.799
 redeemed

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:10.519
 new

00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.039
 creation.

00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.480
 And in

00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:13.839
 the place

00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:14.259
 of tears

00:13:14.259 --> 00:13:14.439
 there will

00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:15.019
 be joy.

00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.039
 And joy

00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:19.459
 brings us

00:13:19.459 --> 00:13:19.699
 to the

00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.219
 next point.

00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:22.319
 The picture

00:13:22.319 --> 00:13:22.740
 that John

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.199
 gives us

00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:23.599
 here of

00:13:23.599 --> 00:13:23.759
 the new

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:24.039
 heavens and

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:24.399
 new earth

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.279
 is important

00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:25.699
 not just

00:13:25.699 --> 00:13:26.019
 because of

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.480
 what's not

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:26.740
 there.

00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:27.120
 There are a lot

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.339
 of things

00:13:27.339 --> 00:13:27.519
 that are

00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:27.980
 not there,

00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:28.159
 right?

00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:28.459
 There's no

00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:28.679
 sea,

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.039
 there's no

00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:29.319
 night,

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:29.699
 et cetera,

00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.039
 et cetera.

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:31.419
 But notice

00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:31.939
 what is

00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:32.279
 there.

00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:33.980
 Because of

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.219
 how the

00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:34.879
 story ends

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.099
 when we

00:13:35.099 --> 00:13:35.459
 see what

00:13:35.459 --> 00:13:36.299
 is there

00:13:36.299 --> 00:13:37.620
 we can

00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.139
 know that

00:13:38.139 --> 00:13:38.860
 the joys

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.240
 of this

00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:40.839
 life are

00:13:40.839 --> 00:13:41.240
 just a

00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:41.959
 foretaste

00:13:41.959 --> 00:13:42.860
 of what's

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.259
 to come.

00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:45.579
 Now think

00:13:45.579 --> 00:13:45.799
 with me

00:13:45.799 --> 00:13:46.219
 for a second.

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:47.439
 Let me

00:13:47.439 --> 00:13:47.639
 do a

00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:48.120
 little test.

00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:49.779
 The average

00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:50.379
 person's

00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:50.899
 picture of

00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:51.199
 heaven,

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:52.439
 what is it?

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.079
 When you

00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:53.339
 think of

00:13:53.339 --> 00:13:53.659
 heaven just

00:13:53.659 --> 00:13:53.959
 right now,

00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:54.360
 what is it?

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:55.599
 I'm going

00:13:55.599 --> 00:13:55.839
 to read

00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:56.259
 your mind.

00:13:56.939 --> 00:13:57.299
 We're all

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:57.819
 wearing togas

00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:58.240
 for some

00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:58.519
 reason.

00:13:59.379 --> 00:13:59.959
 We're sitting

00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:00.620
 on clouds

00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.820
 and we've

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.120
 all learned

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:02.320
 how to

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:02.580
 play the

00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:02.860
 harp.

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:05.200
 We're sort

00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:05.720
 of ethereal

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.500
 spirits just

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:06.800
 kind of

00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.879
 floating in

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.340
 the heavens,

00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.180
 hanging out,

00:14:09.900 --> 00:14:10.500
 involved in

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:10.879
 some sort

00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:11.800
 of disembodied

00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:12.940
 church service.

00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.259
 Ugh.

00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:16.840
 It's not

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.440
 very sensory,

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:17.960
 it's not

00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:18.680
 very dynamic,

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.800
 it's all

00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:20.200
 kind of,

00:14:20.280 --> 00:14:20.500
 well,

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.000
 boring.

00:14:23.540 --> 00:14:23.980
 But,

00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:25.740
 when you

00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:26.139
 read these

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.560
 chapters,

00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.220
 and when you

00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.639
 read what

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.879
 else the

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.280
 Bible has

00:14:29.280 --> 00:14:29.840
 to say,

00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.759
 about our

00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.440
 future and

00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.060
 our hope,

00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:33.040
 the picture

00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:33.400
 couldn't be

00:14:33.400 --> 00:14:34.160
 more opposite

00:14:34.160 --> 00:14:34.660
 than that.

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.060
 That where

00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:36.440
 we're headed

00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:36.800
 is not

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.740
 less sensory,

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:38.440
 but more

00:14:38.440 --> 00:14:38.940
 sensory,

00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:39.800
 and not

00:14:39.800 --> 00:14:40.580
 less dynamic,

00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.280
 but more

00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:41.759
 dynamic,

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:42.639
 and not

00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.620
 less real,

00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:44.720
 but more

00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.060
 real.

00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:48.060
 If you're

00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:48.580
 familiar with

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:48.860
 C.S.

00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:49.360
 Lewis' book,

00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:49.680
 The Great

00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:50.259
 Divorce,

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:50.580
 it's sort

00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:50.800
 of this

00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:51.540
 allegory of

00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:52.200
 the afterlife,

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:52.900
 and he

00:14:52.900 --> 00:14:53.259
 sort of

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.120
 imagines there

00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:54.620
 are visitors

00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.320
 to heaven,

00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:55.980
 and the

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.580
 visitors to

00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:56.980
 heaven who

00:14:56.980 --> 00:14:57.259
 aren't a

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.240
 part of the

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:58.680
 new heavens and

00:14:58.679 --> 00:14:59.120
 new earth,

00:14:59.459 --> 00:14:59.839
 as they

00:14:59.839 --> 00:15:00.339
 step and

00:15:00.339 --> 00:15:00.599
 as they

00:15:00.599 --> 00:15:01.099
 walk onto

00:15:01.099 --> 00:15:01.699
 the fields

00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:02.120
 of just

00:15:02.120 --> 00:15:02.859
 the outskirts

00:15:02.859 --> 00:15:03.239
 of heaven,

00:15:03.339 --> 00:15:04.159
 the grass

00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.599
 pinches and

00:15:05.599 --> 00:15:06.219
 hurts their

00:15:06.219 --> 00:15:06.599
 feet,

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.199
 because that

00:15:08.199 --> 00:15:09.019
 world is so

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.559
 real, so much

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:11.359
 more real than

00:15:11.359 --> 00:15:11.879
 they are,

00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:12.639
 that even the

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.179
 grass itself is

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.779
 like sticks

00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:16.620
 poking them

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.000
 through their

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.479
 shoes.

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.299
 Of course,

00:15:20.339 --> 00:15:20.719
 it's just an

00:15:20.719 --> 00:15:21.279
 image, right?

00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:22.659
 But it's a

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.219
 pretty good one.

00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:25.440
 Let's look at

00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:25.759
 how John

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.480
 describes our

00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:27.899
 future.

00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.500
 In verse

00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.200
 21-2, we're

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.259
 told it's a

00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.860
 city, the

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:32.720
 new Jerusalem.

00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:33.600
 So much for

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.379
 ethereal and

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:34.820
 weightless,

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.100
 right?

00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:35.920
 Nothing can be

00:15:35.920 --> 00:15:36.759
 more concrete

00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.680
 and dense

00:15:37.680 --> 00:15:38.540
 than a city.

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:40.680
 And so much

00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:41.200
 for boring,

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:41.899
 too, right?

00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:42.519
 I mean, no one

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:43.379
 in their 20s

00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:44.220
 moves to a

00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:44.960
 city because

00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:45.779
 it's quiet and

00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:46.420
 serene and you

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:47.060
 can find a nice

00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:47.560
 place with a

00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:48.120
 backyard and a

00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.680
 picket fence,

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.080
 yeah?

00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.580
 No one moves

00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.360
 to a city because

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.740
 they're just

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.279
 looking for

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:53.779
 some peace

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.279
 and quiet.

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.659
 No, they go

00:15:56.659 --> 00:15:57.100
 there because

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.759
 there's something

00:15:57.759 --> 00:15:58.960
 always going

00:15:58.960 --> 00:15:59.519
 on.

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.279
 That it's a

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:01.720
 center of

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:02.879
 opportunity and

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.580
 culture and

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.320
 energy and

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.399
 creativity and

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.220
 it's teeming

00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.120
 with life.

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.379
 Heaven, John

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.460
 says, is a

00:16:10.460 --> 00:16:10.779
 city.

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.299
 And not just

00:16:13.299 --> 00:16:14.039
 any city, but a

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:14.680
 city, he says,

00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:16.019
 prepared as a

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.500
 bride, adorned

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.519
 for her husband.

00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:21.100
 A city decked

00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.019
 out in

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.720
 radiance.

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.860
 and splendor.

00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.700
 The second

00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.299
 half of chapter

00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.139
 21 that we

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.299
 didn't read shows

00:16:28.299 --> 00:16:29.100
 us how radiant

00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:30.060
 this city is.

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:31.159
 And there's this

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.879
 beautiful image,

00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.159
 John says, as

00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:34.240
 it's coming down,

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.779
 it's like a

00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:38.419
 rare jewel with

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.799
 light shining into

00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:41.240
 it and sparkling

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:41.720
 out.

00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:44.940
 And, you know,

00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:45.560
 as this description

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.440
 goes on of this

00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.960
 city, it's almost

00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.080
 as if the line

00:16:49.080 --> 00:16:50.660
 between this city

00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:51.720
 as a place and

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.580
 this city as the

00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.740
 people of God

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.900
 starts to blur.

00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.420
 Is this city the

00:16:56.420 --> 00:16:57.080
 place where we

00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.840
 dwell or is this

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:59.259
 city us coming

00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:00.259
 down where God

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:00.780
 will dwell?

00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:03.420
 And in some

00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:03.960
 sense, I think

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:04.440
 John's being

00:17:04.440 --> 00:17:05.019
 intentionally

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:05.579
 ambiguous.

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.380
 This city is the

00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:09.940
 place and it's the

00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.299
 people.

00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:11.860
 And we're arrayed

00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.620
 like a bride,

00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:14.620
 dressed in beauty.

00:17:14.619 --> 00:17:19.179
 You know, one of

00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:19.579
 the neat things

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.079
 about being a

00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.399
 minister is that

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:21.979
 you get to be on

00:17:21.979 --> 00:17:23.039
 this side of

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.819
 wedding ceremonies

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.799
 and you get to

00:17:25.799 --> 00:17:26.439
 see a lot of

00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.739
 brides come down

00:17:27.739 --> 00:17:28.319
 aisles.

00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:30.779
 And it's great.

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.359
 You know, you get

00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:33.939
 to actually see what

00:17:33.939 --> 00:17:34.819
 the groom sees.

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:35.979
 You get to see the

00:17:35.979 --> 00:17:37.319
 splendor and the

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.279
 joy and the

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.099
 excitement of that

00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.039
 moment time and

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:40.559
 time again.

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:41.719
 And isn't it

00:17:41.719 --> 00:17:42.359
 fitting that when a

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.119
 bride comes in, we

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.959
 all stand up?

00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:45.500
 And everyone

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.159
 starts to get a

00:17:46.159 --> 00:17:47.799
 little excited and

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.219
 hopeful.

00:17:49.939 --> 00:17:50.599
 Maybe I'm a

00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:50.939
 romantic.

00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:51.599
 I don't know.

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.039
 Yeah?

00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:54.739
 You know, weddings

00:17:54.739 --> 00:17:55.139
 are one of the

00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.039
 most eschatological

00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:57.099
 things that we do

00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:57.959
 as human creatures.

00:17:58.659 --> 00:17:59.659
 It's a great play

00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.619
 acting of the final

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:02.459
 day when we come

00:18:02.459 --> 00:18:03.959
 ushered in to the

00:18:03.959 --> 00:18:04.839
 presence of God,

00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:07.059
 decked out like a

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.319
 jewel.

00:18:10.239 --> 00:18:11.019
 But you know, it's

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:11.519
 something more than

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.039
 that, isn't it?

00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:13.019
 When we come to

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.879
 chapter 22, 1

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.359
 through 2, it

00:18:14.359 --> 00:18:15.639
 seems that this

00:18:15.639 --> 00:18:17.759
 city is also a

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.199
 lot like a

00:18:18.199 --> 00:18:18.500
 garden.

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.500
 There's a river

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.579
 flowing through the

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.079
 middle of the

00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:22.519
 street.

00:18:22.979 --> 00:18:23.539
 And there are

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.199
 trees growing

00:18:24.199 --> 00:18:24.419
 there.

00:18:24.459 --> 00:18:25.099
 And not just any

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:26.179
 tree, but the

00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:27.159
 tree of life.

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.399
 Which, of course,

00:18:29.439 --> 00:18:30.059
 takes us back to

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.619
 the beginning of the

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.299
 Bible, doesn't it?

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.959
 To the Garden of

00:18:31.959 --> 00:18:32.159
 Eden.

00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:34.159
 And here, in the

00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:35.959
 midst of this city

00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:37.959
 garden conglomeration,

00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.179
 is that tree of

00:18:39.179 --> 00:18:39.599
 life.

00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:44.219
 bringing fruit and

00:18:44.219 --> 00:18:45.079
 healing to the

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:45.459
 nations.

00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:48.859
 You know, if a

00:18:48.859 --> 00:18:50.459
 city speaks, if

00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:51.199
 that imagery speaks

00:18:51.199 --> 00:18:52.159
 of beauty and

00:18:52.159 --> 00:18:53.859
 energy, I think

00:18:53.859 --> 00:18:56.439
 this agricultural

00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:57.519
 garden imagery

00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:59.519
 speaks of life and

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:01.259
 restoration and

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:01.659
 peace.

00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:03.839
 And what God

00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:05.339
 began in creation,

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:07.740
 he finally completes

00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.680
 in the new

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.160
 creation.

00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.940
 And there it is,

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.240
 the life that

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.279
 he's promised us.

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.779
 Growing like a

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.579
 tree, flowing

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:16.259
 like a river.

00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.180
 For anyone to

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.579
 come and to

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.099
 drink without

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.720
 cost.

00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.000
 But it doesn't

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.660
 just stop there.

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.880
 There's a third

00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:28.779
 image that John

00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.120
 sweeps up into

00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.759
 his description.

00:19:32.120 --> 00:19:33.079
 In verse 21-3,

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:33.819
 we're told that

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.980
 God dwells there.

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:38.039
 Literally, God

00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:38.519
 makes his

00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:39.680
 tabernacle there.

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:42.019
 And in verse

00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.160
 22 of chapter

00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.019
 21, we're told

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.519
 that there's not

00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:45.539
 an actual temple

00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.420
 structure in the

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.339
 city, because

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:49.380
 God is the

00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.039
 temple in its

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.420
 midst.

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:52.059
 In other words,

00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.299
 it's as if this

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:55.460
 city garden thing

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:56.380
 coming down from

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.700
 heaven, it's as if

00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:59.000
 the whole city is

00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.339
 a temple, because

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.180
 God dwells there.

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:04.920
 It's a city and a

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.440
 garden and a

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.960
 temple all at

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.360
 once.

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.680
 And surely, this

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.519
 last image is the

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.140
 most profound,

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.620
 isn't it?

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.259
 At the center of

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:12.960
 the city is the

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.840
 Lord God Almighty

00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.480
 and the Lamb.

00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:17.140
 God dwells there

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:18.480
 in his glory.

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.299
 And there's no

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.220
 need for the sun

00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:22.660
 or moon.

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.279
 It's as if his

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.140
 brilliance is so

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.059
 bright that the

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:26.180
 greatest lights we

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.539
 can imagine seem

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:29.340
 to go dim in his

00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:29.920
 radiance.

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.759
 And night flees

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.259
 away and is made

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.880
 no more.

00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.340
 night, of course,

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:36.840
 being heavily

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.640
 symbolic in

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:38.300
 scripture, right?

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.840
 Night being our

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.460
 ignorance.

00:20:41.340 --> 00:20:41.860
 Night being our

00:20:41.860 --> 00:20:42.420
 sinfulness.

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:44.060
 Night being our

00:20:44.060 --> 00:20:44.540
 sorrow.

00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:45.940
 And yet in the

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.780
 radiance and light

00:20:46.780 --> 00:20:47.780
 of God's presence,

00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.320
 a deep knowledge.

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.660
 And at last,

00:20:51.820 --> 00:20:54.040
 holiness and

00:20:54.040 --> 00:20:54.500
 happiness.

00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:54.759
 happiness.

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.140
 And then, in

00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.839
 probably one of the

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.859
 biggest understatements

00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.359
 of the whole

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:01.920
 scripture, in

00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.460
 chapter 22,

00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.660
 verse 4, we're

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:05.519
 told that they

00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.119
 will see his

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.579
 face.

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.400
 They will see his

00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:10.680
 face.

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.619
 The one thing that

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.759
 Moses couldn't do,

00:21:14.940 --> 00:21:16.279
 see God's glory.

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.119
 That will be the

00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:19.339
 privilege of everyone

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.759
 in that city.

00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:22.099
 And then we're

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:22.700
 told something that

00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.400
 seems a bit kind of

00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:23.720
 strange.

00:21:23.840 --> 00:21:25.120
 God's name will be

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:26.340
 on their foreheads.

00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:28.000
 Which I think is a

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.800
 picture of the

00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:30.880
 union between God

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.940
 and his people.

00:21:33.060 --> 00:21:33.780
 But you know, this

00:21:33.780 --> 00:21:35.200
 beholding God and

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.300
 this increasing

00:21:36.300 --> 00:21:37.140
 union with God,

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.100
 even that is

00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.360
 something that's

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:39.700
 going to be

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.800
 dynamic and

00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.820
 progressive and

00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:42.700
 that goes on for

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.460
 all eternity.

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.380
 Jonathan Edwards

00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.860
 wrote a treatise

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.380
 called The End

00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:48.920
 For Which God

00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.540
 Created the World.

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.000
 And at the end

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.519
 of that treatise,

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:50.780
 he says,

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.779
 imagine a point

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.160
 infinitely high

00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:55.940
 and imagine us

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.399
 and God

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.639
 excelling towards

00:21:57.639 --> 00:21:58.519
 that same point

00:21:58.519 --> 00:21:59.899
 at a rapidly

00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:00.819
 increasing rate

00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:01.899
 at every moment

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.799
 getting closer

00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.980
 and nearer

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.619
 and more

00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.279
 entwined.

00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.700
 And he says it

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.160
 will just keep

00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:10.279
 going and going

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.059
 and going

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.799
 and going.

00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.779
 After all,

00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.099
 who could

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.279
 fathom the

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.399
 depths of

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.099
 God's wisdom?

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:20.359
 Scripture tells

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:20.740
 us that they

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.959
 are unfathomable

00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:22.579
 for us.

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:25.259
 So you see

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:25.719
 what that means?

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.199
 As we learn

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:26.939
 more and more

00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.699
 about who God

00:22:27.699 --> 00:22:28.719
 is, as we

00:22:28.719 --> 00:22:29.639
 grow closer to

00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.740
 him in eternity,

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.859
 it just opens

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:33.000
 up further

00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.019
 and further

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.019
 and deeper

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.359
 and higher

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.219
 and wider.

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:38.559
 That there's

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.359
 no end

00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:42.579
 to the wisdom

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.219
 and to the

00:22:43.219 --> 00:22:44.379
 love and to

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:45.000
 the righteousness

00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.240
 and the goodness

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.480
 that will behold.

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:53.719
 You know,

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.359
 there's analogies

00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:54.819
 to this in our

00:22:54.819 --> 00:22:55.599
 present experience,

00:22:55.659 --> 00:22:55.980
 isn't there?

00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:56.879
 You know,

00:22:56.899 --> 00:22:57.480
 if you take any

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.659
 expert in any

00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.439
 field, say

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.819
 mathematics or

00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.159
 music, you know,

00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:02.939
 it's usually the

00:23:02.939 --> 00:23:03.659
 one who's the

00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:05.559
 expert who will

00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.819
 joyfully confess

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.799
 that there's much

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.319
 more to be

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.240
 discovered and

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.879
 enjoyed than he

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:13.459
 or she could

00:23:13.459 --> 00:23:14.299
 ever realize.

00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:16.859
 That the more

00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.919
 they understand,

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.139
 the more they

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.599
 realize that it's

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.619
 just a slice of

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.099
 what's there.

00:23:24.199 --> 00:23:24.619
 And friends,

00:23:24.659 --> 00:23:25.459
 if that's true

00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:26.859
 of something like

00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:28.619
 mathematics or

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:31.099
 music, how much

00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:31.839
 more true is it

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.439
 of the God who

00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:33.779
 created them both

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.719
 and created every

00:23:35.719 --> 00:23:36.459
 other field of

00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:38.399
 learning that there

00:23:38.399 --> 00:23:38.779
 is?

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:42.319
 So the picture

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:42.960
 that John gives

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.480
 us of this

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.539
 city, garden,

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.440
 temple where

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.160
 at last God

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.639
 is the center

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:46.879
 of our

00:23:46.879 --> 00:23:47.420
 affections for

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.920
 all eternity

00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.039
 with no end

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:51.000
 shows us that

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.720
 all the joys of

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:52.519
 this life now

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:54.420
 are just a

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.839
 foretaste of

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.399
 that unending

00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:56.960
 feast.

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.019
 The things that

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.720
 we enjoy now

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.299
 are just a

00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.779
 shadow of the

00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.639
 substance that

00:24:02.639 --> 00:24:03.220
 will be there.

00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.899
 Just an echo,

00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.399
 just a strain

00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:08.940
 of that ever

00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.860
 swelling symphony.

00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.019
 And if that's

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.700
 true, if our

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.460
 joys are just

00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:15.380
 a foretaste,

00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.019
 just a mere

00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.460
 glimpse of what

00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:17.980
 will be held

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:20.019
 there, again,

00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:20.540
 I think it means

00:24:20.540 --> 00:24:21.160
 two things.

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:25.300
 First, it means

00:24:25.300 --> 00:24:25.960
 that the joys

00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.720
 that we experience

00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:27.680
 here and now

00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.420
 should always be

00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:29.940
 leading our

00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.340
 hearts upwards

00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:32.000
 in gratitude

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.380
 and forwards

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.200
 in anticipation.

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.360
 That we should

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.240
 never in this

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.620
 life experience

00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.720
 any delight

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.279
 or any

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.920
 satisfaction

00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:42.039
 or any joy

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.759
 without, in some

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.920
 sense, using it

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.759
 to call our

00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.559
 hearts forward

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.620
 to that day

00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.240
 when we'll

00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.120
 behold God's

00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:49.259
 face and we'll

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.900
 fall forever

00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:50.720
 into the depths

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.559
 of the One

00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.220
 who is the

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.000
 fountain of

00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.480
 all good.

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:55.860
 God's face and

00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:57.559
 so when music

00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:58.279
 swells our

00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:00.360
 hearts and

00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:01.059
 when laughter

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:02.400
 brightens our

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.839
 faces and

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.460
 when the table

00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.680
 is set and

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.940
 the chairs are

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:09.680
 full, friends,

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.360
 it would be a

00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.220
 waste of them

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:13.559
 not to take

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.500
 that experience

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.799
 and to go on

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:17.000
 and to think of

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.519
 the world to

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:17.819
 come.

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:19.839
 It would be

00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.939
 to cut our

00:25:20.939 --> 00:25:22.619
 present pleasure

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.919
 short, to cut

00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:24.679
 short what

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.200
 they're telling

00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:27.019
 us if we

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.740
 didn't experience

00:25:27.740 --> 00:25:28.720
 them and then

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.859
 go on to dwell

00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:31.220
 on the great

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:33.099
 day when we

00:25:33.099 --> 00:25:33.559
 will dwell in

00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.059
 the new heavens

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.419
 and the new

00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:34.759
 earth.

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.000
 You see, all

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.519
 of our present

00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:39.939
 joys are entryways

00:25:39.939 --> 00:25:41.599
 to true worship.

00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:45.059
 And second, if

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.439
 our present

00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:45.980
 joys are just

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.279
 a foretaste of

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.919
 what's to come,

00:25:49.719 --> 00:25:50.099
 you know, then

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.559
 it means it's

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:52.359
 okay if we

00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.159
 don't experience

00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.179
 everything that

00:25:54.179 --> 00:25:54.740
 life has to

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.039
 offer.

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.219
 It means that

00:25:57.219 --> 00:25:57.839
 you don't need

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.740
 the most amazing

00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.199
 job and the

00:26:00.199 --> 00:26:00.959
 most amazing

00:26:00.959 --> 00:26:02.359
 vacation and the

00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.279
 most amazing

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.759
 spiritual experiences

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.679
 here and now

00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:07.539
 to be eternally

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.299
 satisfied.

00:26:11.599 --> 00:26:13.939
 it's okay if

00:26:13.939 --> 00:26:14.579
 you didn't get

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:16.379
 exactly what you

00:26:16.379 --> 00:26:17.079
 want for Christmas,

00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.539
 right?

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.839
 There's something

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.939
 better in store.

00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:20.980
 And you know,

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.659
 besides, even if

00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:22.799
 you found the

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:24.099
 perfect job or

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.219
 the perfect spouse,

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.219
 they wouldn't do

00:26:26.219 --> 00:26:26.740
 the trick.

00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.919
 There'd still be

00:26:29.919 --> 00:26:30.399
 hunger for

00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:31.059
 something more.

00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.539
 Because we were

00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:35.199
 made to behold

00:26:35.199 --> 00:26:36.639
 the face of God

00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.879
 and to enjoy

00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:38.480
 Him forever.

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:41.139
 If we find that

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.940
 this life leaves

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.740
 us longing for

00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.220
 something more,

00:26:43.280 --> 00:26:43.840
 then it means

00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:44.380
 we're seeing

00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.300
 things the way

00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:46.560
 they really are.

00:26:48.020 --> 00:26:48.820
 Because there is

00:26:48.820 --> 00:26:49.420
 something more.

00:26:50.540 --> 00:26:51.400
 And it's coming

00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.500
 for those whom

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.000
 He loves.

00:26:58.040 --> 00:26:58.700
 So John has

00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.040
 shown us that

00:26:59.040 --> 00:26:59.640
 our tears in

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.020
 this life are

00:27:00.020 --> 00:27:01.180
 temporary and

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.980
 that our joys in

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.420
 this life are

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.140
 just a foretaste

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.580
 of what's to

00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:03.759
 come.

00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:04.380
 But finally,

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.060
 we see that the

00:27:06.060 --> 00:27:07.020
 pursuits of this

00:27:07.020 --> 00:27:08.580
 life are a

00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.040
 preparation.

00:27:10.020 --> 00:27:10.200
 You know,

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.600
 from what we've

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.220
 seen so far,

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.480
 one might think

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.299
 that in light of

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.860
 the world to

00:27:13.860 --> 00:27:14.279
 come,

00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:16.000
 that life here

00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.420
 and now,

00:27:16.860 --> 00:27:17.340
 at the end of

00:27:17.340 --> 00:27:17.519
 the day,

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.080
 doesn't matter

00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:18.620
 much.

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.720
 If that life to

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.440
 come takes away

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.120
 all our tears

00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:22.680
 and completely

00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:23.519
 engulfs all our

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.140
 present joys,

00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.400
 why bother so

00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:26.360
 much with this

00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:26.900
 life here and

00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:27.220
 now?

00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.100
 But,

00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:32.019
 John has one

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:33.299
 last image for

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.759
 us.

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.579
 at the end of

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.200
 chapter 21

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.140
 and verse 24,

00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.839
 we read,

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.940
 the kings of

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.500
 the earth will

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.180
 bring their

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.920
 glory into the

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.200
 city.

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.180
 And then again

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:48.079
 in verse 26,

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.420
 they will bring

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.000
 into it the

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:52.039
 glory and honor

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.259
 of the nations.

00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.240
 You see,

00:27:55.299 --> 00:27:55.660
 the great

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.839
 gathering of

00:27:56.839 --> 00:27:57.779
 God's people

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:59.319
 into that city

00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:01.579
 will also be a

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:03.119
 gathering of all

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.539
 that they've

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.559
 done to his

00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:05.000
 glory.

00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.839
 All the unique

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:09.059
 ways in which

00:28:09.059 --> 00:28:10.139
 God's glory has

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:11.799
 reflected itself

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:13.299
 through countless

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.219
 human cultures

00:28:14.219 --> 00:28:15.139
 and countless

00:28:15.139 --> 00:28:15.939
 human lives

00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:17.179
 will be swept

00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:18.219
 up in the

00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:19.479
 celebration and

00:28:19.479 --> 00:28:20.519
 beauty of the

00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:21.299
 world to come.

00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.699
 That's hard to

00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:26.059
 say exactly what

00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.500
 that's going to

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.059
 look like.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:29.759
 Perhaps it's

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.299
 hard not to

00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:30.659
 think of the

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:31.419
 upcoming Olympics

00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:32.879
 and I think

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.560
 40 days,

00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:33.820
 right?

00:28:33.860 --> 00:28:34.080
 There's a

00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:34.560
 little ticker

00:28:34.560 --> 00:28:35.020
 on the

00:28:35.020 --> 00:28:35.500
 website if

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.800
 you go.

00:28:36.320 --> 00:28:36.700
 Counting

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.040
 down.

00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:39.280
 You know,

00:28:39.300 --> 00:28:39.620
 in the opening

00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.080
 ceremony,

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.700
 the nations

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.800
 stream in,

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.860
 each displaying

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.620
 what's unique

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.320
 about their

00:28:44.320 --> 00:28:44.740
 culture.

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.900
 Sort of a

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.640
 triumphant and

00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.360
 joyful moment.

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:50.660
 But that,

00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.100
 of course,

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.880
 will be just a

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:53.420
 dim reflection

00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:55.680
 at best of

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:56.240
 what will take

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:56.920
 place in the

00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.580
 city to come.

00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.500
 When the

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.040
 kings of the

00:29:00.040 --> 00:29:00.820
 nations and the

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:01.760
 nations themselves

00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:03.160
 bring in their

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.680
 honor and

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.119
 glory.

00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:05.619
 The way in

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.299
 which God has

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:07.079
 refracted and

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.259
 reflected and

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.200
 poured himself out

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:09.879
 on them in all

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:10.920
 their unique ways.

00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:12.879
 In your unique

00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.240
 way.

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.339
 In my unique

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.680
 way.

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.039
 And then John

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.039
 tells us that the

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.579
 nations will not

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.319
 just gather,

00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.299
 but that we will

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:23.640
 reign.

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.640
 At the end of the

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.180
 passage that we

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.960
 read this morning,

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:28.859
 John says that

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.099
 we'll reign forever

00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.159
 and ever.

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.959
 Life in the city

00:29:32.959 --> 00:29:33.619
 to come will not

00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:34.939
 be static or

00:29:34.939 --> 00:29:35.579
 sedentary.

00:29:35.699 --> 00:29:36.519
 We will reign.

00:29:38.399 --> 00:29:39.119
 In the original

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.019
 creation, remember

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.699
 what God told

00:29:40.699 --> 00:29:41.059
 Adam?

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.079
 To keep and to

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.679
 cultivate the

00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:43.959
 garden.

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.079
 That was our

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:46.019
 original mandate,

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.919
 to rule under

00:29:46.919 --> 00:29:48.019
 God, to be

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.339
 culture creators,

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.699
 to take God's

00:29:50.699 --> 00:29:51.480
 name into the

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.019
 world, and to

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.740
 bring out the

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.459
 sort of latent

00:29:55.459 --> 00:29:56.339
 beauty and

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.579
 potentiality of the

00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.240
 world that God

00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:58.839
 has made.

00:29:58.839 --> 00:30:02.199
 And what do we

00:30:02.199 --> 00:30:02.939
 see here in the

00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.539
 new creation?

00:30:04.959 --> 00:30:05.819
 We see that in

00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.579
 the new creation

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.740
 having been rescued

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.699
 from all the

00:30:08.699 --> 00:30:09.379
 effects of the

00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:12.179
 fall, we take up

00:30:12.179 --> 00:30:13.079
 that creation call

00:30:13.079 --> 00:30:14.439
 once again and

00:30:14.439 --> 00:30:15.439
 bring the glory of

00:30:15.439 --> 00:30:16.799
 God forward into

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.539
 the new heavens and

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.059
 the new earth.

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.639
 And the lives that

00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:24.000
 we're living now are

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.139
 preparation for that

00:30:25.139 --> 00:30:25.439
 day.

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:27.279
 when we stream

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:29.140
 into the city and

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.220
 flow forth raining

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.700
 forever.

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.519
 And friends, don't

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.340
 you see that if our

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:36.580
 pursuits now are a

00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.600
 preparation for that

00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:39.640
 day, then by all

00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:41.220
 means, they matter.

00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:44.460
 Christian hope doesn't

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.240
 steal the meaning of

00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.279
 this life, just the

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.740
 opposite.

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:50.019
 It makes life now

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.900
 eternally meaningful and

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:52.340
 significant.

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:54.019
 what we do now gets

00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.399
 swept up into the

00:30:55.399 --> 00:30:56.159
 world to come that

00:30:56.159 --> 00:30:57.019
 will never end.

00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:01.220
 In fact, it's only a

00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:03.299
 biblical worldview that

00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.919
 really gives lasting

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:06.000
 meaning to our

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:07.079
 pursuits in this life.

00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:09.039
 Think about it, if in a

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.599
 million years we're all

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:12.099
 going to turn to ash when

00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:13.919
 the sun expands and no

00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:15.319
 one will remember a thing

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:19.039
 about humanity, then maybe

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.940
 there's some short-term

00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.879
 meaning to be had.

00:31:22.740 --> 00:31:23.680
 But friend, nothing

00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:24.519
 really matters in the

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.259
 end if that's true.

00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:29.019
 And at best, at best,

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.859
 our work and our acts

00:31:31.859 --> 00:31:33.139
 of mercy and our longing

00:31:33.139 --> 00:31:34.680
 and pursuit of justice and

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:36.680
 our relationships, friends,

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.399
 if that picture of the

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:39.000
 world is true, at best,

00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:40.099
 those things are just a

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:42.139
 distraction from our

00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.879
 annihilation.

00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:46.720
 But that is not where

00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.460
 the story is headed.

00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:51.900
 And because our pursuits

00:31:51.900 --> 00:31:53.440
 are a preparation for the

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.920
 new heavens and the new

00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:57.740
 earth, they are rich with

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.080
 meaning and significance.

00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:03.340
 And secondly, if they are a

00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:04.700
 preparation for that day,

00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.840
 then surely that's an

00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:08.980
 encouragement for us to

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:11.320
 begin shaping and directing

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:13.500
 all of our pursuits here

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.759
 and now to the glory of

00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.059
 God.

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.859
 That's what matters in the

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.019
 end.

00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.200
 Paul says whether you eat

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.759
 or whether you drink, do

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:23.039
 everything to the glory of

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.379
 God.

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:26.200
 In other words, the future

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:27.599
 that's in store for us gives

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:29.359
 our pursuits a single

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:32.119
 magnificent focus.

00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:35.179
 No longer are we doing them

00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:36.500
 for our own sake, but for

00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:37.259
 God's sake.

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.679
 No longer are we going

00:32:39.679 --> 00:32:41.139
 about them to advance our

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:42.860
 own desires, but to advance

00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:44.480
 what God desires.

00:32:46.800 --> 00:32:47.960
 No longer are we doing

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.200
 them out of a longing to be

00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:51.360
 recognized or remembered or

00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.960
 to get the praise of our

00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:53.920
 fellow humans.

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.820
 But we're doing them out of

00:32:55.820 --> 00:32:58.720
 love to God who made us

00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:01.620
 and loved us and redeemed

00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:05.020
 us and with whom we will

00:33:05.020 --> 00:33:06.520
 dwell for eternity.

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:11.359
 So let me end this morning

00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.879
 with two final exhortations.

00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:15.619
 First, as we consider the

00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:17.119
 future that God has in store,

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.000
 it puts a very serious

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:20.339
 question before us, doesn't

00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:20.519
 it?

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:26.220
 It asks, are you sure that you

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.599
 will be a part of that city?

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:31.839
 At the end of chapter 21,

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.099
 John makes clear that not

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:36.059
 everyone will be there,

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.919
 but nothing unclean will ever

00:33:38.919 --> 00:33:41.139
 enter it, nor anyone who does

00:33:41.139 --> 00:33:42.619
 what is detestable or false,

00:33:43.199 --> 00:33:44.980
 but only those who are written

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:47.299
 in the Lamb's book of life.

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:50.099
 And you know, the reality is,

00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:51.240
 friends, that we're all trying to

00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:53.199
 get our name into some kind of

00:33:53.199 --> 00:33:54.359
 book of life, aren't we?

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:57.399
 But you can have your name

00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:59.859
 etched on buildings because

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:01.139
 you've given so much money to

00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:01.539
 the man.

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:04.019
 And you can have your name

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:06.639
 footnoted in scholarly tome

00:34:06.639 --> 00:34:08.199
 after scholarly tome.

00:34:08.799 --> 00:34:09.839
 Or you can have your name

00:34:09.839 --> 00:34:11.839
 plastered on billboards.

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:14.400
 Prince is coming to one of the

00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:15.559
 casinos, by the way, in case

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.119
 you didn't notice.

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:17.000
 I saw that on 95.

00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:18.519
 His only East Coast appearance.

00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:21.500
 You can have your name plastered

00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.319
 on billboards.

00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.600
 You can have your name

00:34:23.600 --> 00:34:25.680
 endlessly debated on blogs.

00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:27.100
 You can have your name revered

00:34:27.100 --> 00:34:28.480
 on the sports field, and they

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.700
 can raise it up in the stadium,

00:34:29.840 --> 00:34:30.880
 and there it is, your number

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.380
 retired.

00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:35.660
 But friends, eventually, all of

00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:37.860
 these things will fade and

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.340
 perish.

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.380
 And if that is where we're

00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:43.380
 putting our hope, then we will

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:44.260
 perish with them.

00:34:44.260 --> 00:34:52.360
 But if our name is found in the

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:54.660
 book of life that belongs to the

00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:59.840
 Lamb, if He knows our name, then we

00:34:59.840 --> 00:35:00.800
 will never perish.

00:35:03.180 --> 00:35:04.700
 Friend, do you have the assurance

00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:08.760
 that your name is written there in

00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:11.080
 the book that never fades before the

00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.960
 one who lives forever?

00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:16.619
 Have you placed your faith and

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:18.579
 your hope in Jesus Christ?

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:22.659
 He is the Lamb who came to earth

00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:25.719
 and died and rose again so that you

00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:26.799
 might enter that city.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.880
 We're told that nothing unclean can

00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.420
 enter it.

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:34.099
 So what hope is there for us who are

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:36.559
 unclean, who have done what is

00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.840
 detestable and false?

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:43.000
 Friends, our hope is the Lamb who

00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:45.860
 came to earth and was crucified and

00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:48.920
 made unclean so that unclean sinners

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:51.200
 like you and me might be made clean

00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:54.100
 through faith in Him and given

00:35:54.100 --> 00:35:56.960
 access and freedom and joy to enter

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.579
 that city.

00:36:00.260 --> 00:36:03.559
 Are you sure that your name is in His

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:03.940
 book?

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.880
 Finally, for those of us who are

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:12.279
 trusting in Christ, the question is

00:36:12.279 --> 00:36:15.159
 this, how can I be living now in light

00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:16.340
 of the city that is to come?

00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:19.440
 How can I be living right now?

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.960
 Because that is true.

00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:26.099
 That is the future, brothers and

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:28.420
 sisters, that Christ has purchased for

00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:28.619
 you.

00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:30.679
 This is the inheritance that He's won

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.219
 for you.

00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:35.139
 And it is sure and it is solid.

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:37.759
 Write this down, God says in chapter

00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:39.679
 21, because it's true.

00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:43.839
 I'm the beginning and I'm the end.

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:46.119
 And this is what I've prepared for you.

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:51.299
 So friends, in the midst of the tears of

00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:55.079
 this life and the joys and the pursuits,

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:59.039
 keep your eyes on the city to come.

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:04.759
 Remember who you are and where you are

00:37:04.759 --> 00:37:05.099
 headed.

00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:11.099
 Live now in light of that city.

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:14.599
 And I can assure you that it will soften

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:17.639
 your tears and it will deepen your

00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:21.920
 joys and it will focus your pursuits.

00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:26.460
 And then at last, when we reach that

00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:29.300
 city, as C.S. Lewis writes at the end of

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:32.000
 the Chronicles of Narnia, we find that

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:34.559
 all our life in this world and all our

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:37.960
 adventures had only been the cover and

00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.099
 title page, he says.

00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:43.180
 Now at last, we'll begin chapter one of

00:37:43.180 --> 00:37:46.360
 the great story, which no one on earth

00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:49.180
 has read, which goes on forever.

00:37:49.179 --> 00:37:53.519
 And in which every chapter is better than

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.219
 the one before.

00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:57.500
 Let's pray together.

00:38:03.440 --> 00:38:06.359
 Oh Lord God, we thank you that you have

00:38:06.359 --> 00:38:12.819
 looked upon us in our hopeless estate and

00:38:12.819 --> 00:38:14.399
 drawn near to us in Christ.

00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:24.940
 God, I pray for my brothers and sisters

00:38:24.940 --> 00:38:28.059
 here that this hope, as Paul says, would

00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:31.300
 be a burning realization in their hearts.

00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:33.740
 Lord, enlighten all of our hearts so that

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:35.420
 we might know this hope to which you've

00:38:35.420 --> 00:38:35.900
 called us.

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:38.740
 God, we want to live our lives now in

00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.579
 light of that future.

00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:42.400
 We want to be a people who are bringing

00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:45.619
 that future into the present in joy and

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:48.240
 in courage and in passion.

00:38:49.200 --> 00:38:51.039
 God, make us so by your spirit.

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:55.160
 And Father, I pray for those here this

00:38:55.160 --> 00:38:59.400
 morning who, Lord, don't know you, who are

00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:02.480
 far from you, who are uncertain whether

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:05.920
 they are indeed in your book, as you say,

00:39:06.740 --> 00:39:07.780
 your book of life.

00:39:07.780 --> 00:39:10.320
 God, I pray that by your spirit you would

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:13.220
 get a hold of them and open their eyes to

00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:15.420
 see the beauty of Christ crucified, our

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.820
 Lamb.

00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:20.620
 God, would you call forth in them faith and

00:39:20.620 --> 00:39:22.940
 repentance and hope in him.

00:39:24.080 --> 00:39:27.800
 God, help them to see that this hope isn't

00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:30.560
 just pie in the sky, but it is a certain and

00:39:30.560 --> 00:39:33.140
 sure future that you have purchased for your

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:33.500
 people.

00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:39.639
 God, make it so for your namesake.

00:39:40.519 --> 00:39:40.799
 Amen.