READ: Revelation 22:1-4
1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
KEY THOUGHT:
Even during the holidays, it’s inevitable to sometimes feel sadness, melancholy or even misery. Experiencing a valley after a peak is to be expected. Regardless of what brings the valley or the feeling of sadness, you can be prepared to face it and to rise above it. The unexpected rains of change fall on everyone… a sudden change in your work situation, an unexpected large expense, a sudden illness, or more tragically, the unexpected loss of a family member or friend can bring your world crashing down and lead to a period or sadness or depression. How you handle it depends on your view of the situation… especially your perspective regarding eternity.
In today’s Scripture passage, we see a description of eternity presented to the Apostle John in his revelation of what’s to come in the new heaven and earth. This passage is not only hope during times of earthly sadness, it’s also a promise and a medicine for the ailment that we experience as a result from Jesus Christ of the unexpected changes and valleys we experience. It is a promise that…
- enables healing,
- eliminates the curse of death, and
- establishes our presence with God for eternity.
In a season that can be filled with much doubt and depression, why not change your perspective from the temporary things of this world to the eternity God has for you?
A change in perspective starts with the change that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Once you have that relationship, you begin to see and believe what God has for you in eternity. Although unexpected changes and challenges will still come your way, your trust in Jesus Christ reveals a whole new world of opportunity that helps you rise above this world and have victory over sadness, melancholy, or misery. Decide today to trust God and His medicine for misery found in Jesus Christ!
CONSIDER:
- Is it appropriate for Christians to have a miserable perspective on life? Why or why not?
- How do you handle unexpected changes – do they cause you to worry and fret or do you rise above them?
- What can you do differently to have an eternal perspective on life?
APPLICATION:
Live with the eternal perspective of Christ and rise above the challenges of this life.
