April 10, 2025

Revelation 21:1-7
Then 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.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’
or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
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 water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Those who are victorious will inherit all this,
and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

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Lord, we thank you for the promise of glory.

We thank you
that we can read the end of the Book
and know beyond a shadow of doubt, that all will be well.

We know you will always be our God.
And the things that cause so much pain and distress
will one day all be gone.
All old things will be no more.

One day all things will be new.
All of our past will be in the distance.
And God will wipe all tears from our eyes.

Our God promises
there will be no more mourning or crying or pain.
Hallelujah!

What’s our good news?
The Alpha and Omega will give water
from a life-giving spring,
where there will be no more thirst.

All things will be made
Brand-spanking new!
We are not defeated.
We are more than conquerors.
We are the sons and daughters of him who lives forever.
We are the children of the Most High God.

Lord, thank you for dwelling within us
and giving us your Spirit.
Thank you for a new home in glory.
Thank you for a new life, a new beginning and a new ending.

Thank you that it's not over, God,
until you say it's over!
My hope is in the everlasting God,
the God of all creation…
The God who is, who was,
and who will always be,
in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.