Listen to Devotion

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

The apostle John was given a vision of the future, after this world comes to its end, and God gives his people a new world in which to live.

In this new world, John was told there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. What a wonderful existence it will be! Some theologians believe that the saints in heaven will have all the marks of sin removed, including the deterioration of old age. The aches and pains, amputations, and all other defects will be corrected and made perfect in Jesus.

We can’t be sure this will be the case. But, whatever we look like, we know that our physical bodies in heaven will be perfect and sinless. Imagine—living with God himself without the possibility of falling into sin. We will have free choice in the purest sense, a choice that can do nothing but please God and praise him. That will be rest indeed.

Be with me, Lord Jesus, until I join you in the perfection of heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.