What images are conjured in your mind when you hear the word home? Today, Deb and I will leave our house early and travel to SE Georgia. Why? Today is my mother’s birthday. She turns 86. Often, when I’m talking to her on the phone she’ll say something such as, “When you coming home?” My childhood home was a small, very small, concrete block house that sat on Lawton Ave. I still remember the layout of the house. There was a short hallway leading to three small bedrooms and one bathroom with the dryer in it. My bedroom was at the end of the hall to the right. There’s coming a day when Christians will be going home. Revelation 21 and 22 are beginning to hold a lot more attraction for me than in my younger years. The chapter begins with a “new heaven and a new earth.” In the first five verses there are five things that are “no more.” No more sea, death, sorrow, tears, or pain. 22:3-5 names two more things that will no longer be around, the curse and night. Often, I think about The New Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. The description of this city is:

  1. Spectacular. Take a moment and read 21:10-27. Can you say, “Wow” with me? The shekinah of God is there. The brightness of the city glistens like precious stones. Twelve gates are named for the twelve tribes and each gate has an angel standing next to it. Twelve foundations are also mentioned, and they have the names of the twelve apostles on them. This place is huge as well. 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles high. That cubed city is massive, and the beauty is seen from the foundations right up the walls and get this, each of the twelve entrances has a gate made from a single pearl. Those are big oysters.
  2. Satisfying would be another word I’d use concerning this New Jerusalem. Three thoughts come to mind. There will be refreshment in the “pure river of water of life” (22:1). I think there will be responsibility in this city. When Adam was first created he had work to do in Eden. The work was satisfying and enjoyable. I can’t imagine anything more boring than to sit on a cloud all day picking out tunes on a harp. Also, I think about the relationships that will be in that great city. Imagine seeing family as you walk streets of gold. Imagine stopping to talk with Old Testament characters with the chance to ask questions about how the Lord used them. What about Christians we have never met? People from all nations, kindreds, and from all eras of time will be there. We will get to hear their stories.
  3. Sanctified means “holy, set apart.” The New Jerusalem is called “the holy city” (Revelation 21:2). We are also informed about a group that won’t be included in 21:8;  “The fearful (cowards), and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their place in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” There is an old folklore/spiritual from a hundred years ago titled “Everybody Talking bout Heaven ain’t goin There.” I watched two politicians debate this week and one was offended when faith was injected into the debate. She claimed she also was ‘a person of faith.’ What does she, this person of faith believe? Abortion, the killing of the unborn babies, all the way to the point of birth. She believes in LGBTQ, the alphabet lifestyles and multiple genders, claiming it should be normalized. These are clear sins against God, His creation and His pattern for humanity.

God’s home will be wonderful because it will be ours also. John 14 records the words of Jesus concerning heaven. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (14:2).