“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
(Revelation 21:3, ESV)
(Revelation 21:3, ESV)
In the beginning of the Bible, as recorded in the book of Genesis, God created Adam and Eve. They were considered the first humans. God created the two in HIS image. God placed them in the Garden of Eden. There, they had everything they required for a long, healthy life. But God didn’t just leave them in the garden by themselves. We are told in scripture that God “visited” the garden, walked in the garden, and spent time with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8-9). So, from the beginning of time, it was God’s plan to not only create human beings but to spend time with them.
If you visit various churches, you will often find places of worship named “Emmanuel” or “Immanuel”. The word “Emmanuel” means “God with us” as Matthew 1:23 teaches. This word is another reminder that God desires to “be with us”. God desires to be active in your life. God cares about what happens in your day-to-day world. Our God is not some far off deity who created life and then moved on to watch from afar. No! God enjoys being active not only in HIS creation but watches closely the lives of those who are in it. To that end, God even keeps a record of the actions of every human being and has it written down in Heaven (Revelation 20:12-13).
Did you know that God visits this world often? Did you know that God keeps a record of your actions and decisions and plans? Don’t doubt for a moment that God has a great compassion for you. On the contrary, God cares deeply about your life! Jesus even died for you!
When Carrie was nineteen, she was raped. A man slipped a drug into her Ginger Ale at a party and then took advantage of her when the drug put her to sleep. Carrie was a lifelong Christian. She had been brought up in a loving Christian family. She was active in her church and a leader in the Christian youth organization at her college. After her rape, she pulled away from her friends and family. Reeling from the assault, it took her years to feel comfortable around men and at public gatherings. The whole ordeal took a terrible toll on her psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.
After several years of inner suffering and depression because of the incident, Carrie spoke to her best friend about her inner turmoil. The best friend introduced Carrie to her pastor. For some reason, Carrie felt comfortable with the pastor almost immediately. She decided to talk to the pastor about what had happened to see if he could help with her depressive episodes and lingering spiritual pain.
In the second session of counseling together, Carrie told the pastor that she was hurt that God abandoned her to the rapist that night of the assault. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she asked the pastor, “Where was God when I needed HIM? Why wasn’t he there for me? Why didn’t he protect me?” After holding her hand, the pastor replied, “He was there with you. No doubt HE hated the whole thing. Surely, HE not only marked your rapist for punishment, HE also has been looking out for you ever since. He wants to heal you. He has always loved you! Haven’t you seen any signs of HIS presence?”
Over the next few months, Carrie and the pastor worked through the pain and suffering. They looked for signs of God’s presence in Carrie’s life. They talked about so many helpful things. But the one thing that Carrie most cherished from those counseling sessions was the discovery that God really did love her and no doubt had sent the pastor in her life to bring comfort and healing.
It surprises me how often people believe God is absent from their lives or even elusive. Even if God remains silent, that doesn’t mean God is absent! Even if your prayers aren’t answered immediately, that doesn’t mean God doesn’t care about your situation! Over and over in scripture we are told how God was present and active in the lives of the faithful. Even when the faithful suffered, God was already planning on how to comfort them.
When Joseph was suffering because of the jealousy of his brothers and then was subsequently sold into slavery, scripture records how God watched over Joseph and planned for his future salvation (Genesis 45:4-8). When Israel was suffering under the yoke of slavery in Egypt, God was already making arrangements for their deliverance (Exodus 3). As the people of Judah were suffering exile in Babylon, God was already telling the prophet Isaiah how the people would soon be freed (Isaiah 41:10-13). When a man born blind from birth was wondering what his fate would be, the Heavenly Father had already planned for Jesus to heal him (John 9). God is consistently and actively watching out for the faithful.
In the scripture reading for today from Revelation 21, the author explains God’s future plans. At some point in the future, God is planning to build a new heaven and new earth. There, the faithful will be cared for directly by God. There will be no tears or suffering any longer. Those things will have “passed away” (Revelation 21:4). God will “dwell” with the saved in that new Heaven (Revelation 21:3). God will again walk among HIS people as HE did in the Garden of Eden!
Until you reach Heaven, don’t doubt that God is “with you”! Being a part of your life is an important piece of God’s plan. God’s eye is always on your situation. God is consistently active in and around you. Yes, you will have your hard days. Life on earth carries risks. There will be illnesses and accidents. There will be unforeseen complications and trials. Through it all, God will be working on your behalf. God will be aware of your challenges. Pray to HIM! Seek HIS guidance! Ask for healing! Trust HIS word! God keeps HIS promises. One of HIS promises is to watch over the faithful… over you! That is, until HE brings you to live with HIM in Heaven!
If you visit various churches, you will often find places of worship named “Emmanuel” or “Immanuel”. The word “Emmanuel” means “God with us” as Matthew 1:23 teaches. This word is another reminder that God desires to “be with us”. God desires to be active in your life. God cares about what happens in your day-to-day world. Our God is not some far off deity who created life and then moved on to watch from afar. No! God enjoys being active not only in HIS creation but watches closely the lives of those who are in it. To that end, God even keeps a record of the actions of every human being and has it written down in Heaven (Revelation 20:12-13).
Did you know that God visits this world often? Did you know that God keeps a record of your actions and decisions and plans? Don’t doubt for a moment that God has a great compassion for you. On the contrary, God cares deeply about your life! Jesus even died for you!
When Carrie was nineteen, she was raped. A man slipped a drug into her Ginger Ale at a party and then took advantage of her when the drug put her to sleep. Carrie was a lifelong Christian. She had been brought up in a loving Christian family. She was active in her church and a leader in the Christian youth organization at her college. After her rape, she pulled away from her friends and family. Reeling from the assault, it took her years to feel comfortable around men and at public gatherings. The whole ordeal took a terrible toll on her psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.
After several years of inner suffering and depression because of the incident, Carrie spoke to her best friend about her inner turmoil. The best friend introduced Carrie to her pastor. For some reason, Carrie felt comfortable with the pastor almost immediately. She decided to talk to the pastor about what had happened to see if he could help with her depressive episodes and lingering spiritual pain.
In the second session of counseling together, Carrie told the pastor that she was hurt that God abandoned her to the rapist that night of the assault. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she asked the pastor, “Where was God when I needed HIM? Why wasn’t he there for me? Why didn’t he protect me?” After holding her hand, the pastor replied, “He was there with you. No doubt HE hated the whole thing. Surely, HE not only marked your rapist for punishment, HE also has been looking out for you ever since. He wants to heal you. He has always loved you! Haven’t you seen any signs of HIS presence?”
Over the next few months, Carrie and the pastor worked through the pain and suffering. They looked for signs of God’s presence in Carrie’s life. They talked about so many helpful things. But the one thing that Carrie most cherished from those counseling sessions was the discovery that God really did love her and no doubt had sent the pastor in her life to bring comfort and healing.
It surprises me how often people believe God is absent from their lives or even elusive. Even if God remains silent, that doesn’t mean God is absent! Even if your prayers aren’t answered immediately, that doesn’t mean God doesn’t care about your situation! Over and over in scripture we are told how God was present and active in the lives of the faithful. Even when the faithful suffered, God was already planning on how to comfort them.
When Joseph was suffering because of the jealousy of his brothers and then was subsequently sold into slavery, scripture records how God watched over Joseph and planned for his future salvation (Genesis 45:4-8). When Israel was suffering under the yoke of slavery in Egypt, God was already making arrangements for their deliverance (Exodus 3). As the people of Judah were suffering exile in Babylon, God was already telling the prophet Isaiah how the people would soon be freed (Isaiah 41:10-13). When a man born blind from birth was wondering what his fate would be, the Heavenly Father had already planned for Jesus to heal him (John 9). God is consistently and actively watching out for the faithful.
In the scripture reading for today from Revelation 21, the author explains God’s future plans. At some point in the future, God is planning to build a new heaven and new earth. There, the faithful will be cared for directly by God. There will be no tears or suffering any longer. Those things will have “passed away” (Revelation 21:4). God will “dwell” with the saved in that new Heaven (Revelation 21:3). God will again walk among HIS people as HE did in the Garden of Eden!
Until you reach Heaven, don’t doubt that God is “with you”! Being a part of your life is an important piece of God’s plan. God’s eye is always on your situation. God is consistently active in and around you. Yes, you will have your hard days. Life on earth carries risks. There will be illnesses and accidents. There will be unforeseen complications and trials. Through it all, God will be working on your behalf. God will be aware of your challenges. Pray to HIM! Seek HIS guidance! Ask for healing! Trust HIS word! God keeps HIS promises. One of HIS promises is to watch over the faithful… over you! That is, until HE brings you to live with HIM in Heaven!