Read 2 Chronicles 10 and Revelation 7.
This devotional is about Revelation 7.
What will eternity be like? That is a question I have raised from time to time in these devotionals, and I’m raising it again today.
The answer to that question has several different parts. There is no book of the Bible called “Eternity,” nor is there any chapter or section of the Bible that lays out everything we might want to know about life after this one.
But scripture supplies many pieces, many partial descriptions of eternity. With those pieces, we can patch together some specifics about what our eternal life with God will look like. We know, for instance, that we will live on earth but that it will be a “new earth” that comes also with a “new heaven.” We know that in eternity there will be eternal punishment for those who died in their sins and eternal life for those who trusted in Christ in this life.
One of the greatest things to know, however, is that you and I will know God in a personal and deeply loving way. Revelation 7, which we read today, tells us about that.
The one who taught John about this was “…one of the elders…” according to verse 13. We were introduced to these men back in Revelation 4:4. Now here in Revelation 7, one of these elders tells John. that, in eternity we will serve God before his throne night and day (v. 15). But this service is not a one-way street. God will not treat us like slaves in eternity, forcing us to do his bidding. Instead, as we serve him God “will shelter them with his presence” (v. 15d).
Think about that! The presence of God will be with you and over you throughout your eternity with Christ! Sure, God’s presence is with us in this life, but in eternity his presence will be something we experience and we’ll experience it at all times without interruption.
Verse 17 adds to this description of our eternal fellowship with God. It says that Christ “…will be their shepherd” (v. 17b). He will be watching over us, leading us personally each day like a shepherd watches over and leads his sheep. The chapter ends with the last two phrases of verse 17 saying, “‘….he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
People talk about meeting the great heroes of scripture in heaven. We think about asking Moses about crossing the Red Sea, asking David about his encounter with Goliath, asking Elijah about his victory on Mt. Carmel, asking Peter about the Transfiguration, and more. But, as wonderful as those things will be, the most wonderful part of eternity will be enjoying the presence of God with you for all eternity. Although God will be present with every believer for all eternity, each one of us will experience his presence as if we are the only person who has it. That’s what a God who is everywhere present in the fullness of being can do. He can give every one of us his undivided attention and love all at the same time.
It is a blessing to walk with God in this life and I hope you are walking with him by learning his word and talking to him in prayer. But we do those things in this life by faith because we can’t see God with us or experience his presence fully in this life. But if you have been washed “in the blood of the Lamb” as verse 14 says, you can look forward to the undivided presence and attention of God for all eternity. Nothing could be better than that!