He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21.5
Praise God for inviting us to live on the resurrection side of the cross. The resurrection truly changed everything.
James York writes, “The resurrection changed everything. The disciples buried their fear and sin then they courageously spread the gospel, the good news of life and love. They formed the world’s first inclusive community including Jew, Greek, slave, free, male, female, rich, and poor. All were welcomed and loved. Together they worked with the risen Jesus now guiding each of them through the Holy Spirit in their heart and mind to begin breaking down every ethnic, social and cultural barrier. The resurrection inspired them to sacrifice property, possessions, reputation, vocations and positions. The resurrection enabled them to forgive and to help others discover that resurrection life is conquering every form of death.“
The disciples now seeing believed.
What do you believe?
Heaven believes Good Friday finished it. Heaven believes on Good Friday Jesus conquered sin and death. Heaven believes Good Friday is the end – it is the death of death. Heaven believes on Good Friday Jesus made atonement for the whole world.
Romans 3.22-26 says, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Heaven believes the crucifixion is inextricably linked to the resurrection. Matthew’s Gospel record the following, “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27.51-54
Heaven doesn’t see the crucifixion and the resurrection as two separate events. On Good Friday as Christ dies the dead are raised to life. This event is a foreshadowing of resurrection – immediately after Christ breathes his last – this connects victory to the seeming defeat.
These raised saints entered earthly Jerusalem where the temple veil had been torn. The way into God’s full presence was opened. This scene is only a foretaste of what will come in our heavenly Jerusalem when God’s true temple will be open and unveiled, and the resurrected saints will dwell with the Triune God forever!
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19.11-16
What does heaven believe about you?
Heaven believes you’re worth it. Heaven believes you’re worth all of that.
You are worth all of heaven’s suffering. You are worth all the pain. All the sin. All the wrath.
So that you might know God’s kindness, the richness of His mercy. So that you might know His love, and live in His love, and rest in His love. So that you might know how to live and love “on earth as it is in heaven.” So that you might know: (Philippians 3.10-11) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
What do you believe?
Easter is raw reality. Easter stands in stark witness, not to the meaning of death, but to the meaning of what it is to go on despite death, in the face of death–because of death – because of resurrection.
To fully celebrate Easter means to stand in the light of the empty tomb and decide what we are going to believe – to decide what difference it makes – and what to do next.
What do you believe?
Pray through what heaven believes and declares, Revelation 21.3-7.
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. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 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.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
