One of my favorite things to watch is a marathon...well the end of one, the last mile or so. The lead runner starts to crest the last hill and he can see the finish line off in the distance. His eyes start to widen with excitement while his heart is already beating at a frantic pace. The race he started so long ago is about to be over. Does he slow down his pace? Does he stop? No, he shakes the sweat from his head and gives the crowd a show. With a load growl he starts to sprint to the finish line. You might ask what inspires such effort in someone that is so clearly tired and worn down? How can they muster the energy to sprint after running hard for 26 miles, up and down hills, making his lungs burn more than before? It is the prize at the finish that makes it all worth while. Simply put, it is the win!
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelation 21:1-7 ESV
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And 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 from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelation 21:1-7 ESV
The apostle John was an old man when he wrote these words down. He isn't up for running any races anymore. Yet inside his chest his heart continues to race. He is looking upon the end of the race. The finish line is the end of days, the end of the line for mankind. Just across the finish line waits a prize that makes every pain and indignity he has endured worth it. But what is the prize you might ask?
You might think its the part about "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" that John tells us in verse 4 or if you read a little further in verses 10-11 you might conclude it is the shining city of Jerusalem. Or maybe it is getting to see all our family and friends that went on before us. While all of these things are certainly treasures, a far greater treasure awaits. A treasure that is of a much higher value than all of these.
The treasure of heaven is God Himself. He is the prize at the end of it all. Being in His presence with all His people will wipe all the tears away. It is the glory of Almighty God that makes Jerusalem shine so brightly.
But imagine with me for a moment, John having to return to his mundane, daily life after catching a glimpse of the end. Do you think he ever got bored with his life again? No way! He knew in his heart that he had ran the race of a lifetime, the race of faith, and that his reward would be great if he stayed the pace. I can imagine that his zeal for the Lord was greatly strengthened after this experience.
It is by faith that we can glimpse the prize as we worship God. Then we are commanded to run the race that is set before us. We aren't chasing the next job or a better house or more money in this race. We are chasing the treasure of heaven....God Himself.
Comments
Post a Comment