“I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea… and no more death, mourning, crying or pain” (Rev. 21:1-4). “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst… For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water” (Rev.7:16-17).
Dear Lord Jesus, we paise, bless, and adore you for many well-founded reasons. But today, rather than just offering a general “thank you,” we want to be specific. Though there are scores more, here are “7 no more’s” you have won for us that we will enjoy in fullness forever, after your return.
No more “sea“—the metaphor for darkness, chaos, and evil in the Book of Revelation. Hallelujah, Jesus, you haven’t secured a “beach-less” eternity for us, but a “broken-less” one. The devil is still dastardly, but he is our defeated foe and will soon be eradicated.
No more “death, mourning, crying, pain.” You defeated death and pain at your first coming, and will eliminate them at your return. We will never again experience death or pain in any form—not just physical death and pain, but also emotional, spiritual, mental, societal, relational, environmental… thank you, Lord, thank you.
No more “hunger and thirst” of any variety. Jesus, thank you for setting an expiration date on hunger and thirst—physical and spiritual. All poverty and privation will be gone. The category “hungry child” will cease to exist. “Not enough” will be replaced with “hyper-abundance”… all because of you, Jesus. Even in eternity you will shepherd us and “lead us to springs of living water.” Wow!!!
With our minds blown, hearts inflamed, and hands raised, we worship you, Jesus. Until you return, we will labor and love with you in all these arenas of brokenness, confident of the soon coming Day of all things new. So Very Amen