The following is chapter 24, the final chapter in the children’s series, If They Could Talk, the story of our redemption as it unfolds from Genesis to Revelation. This is the story of the promised new heaven and a new earth and the promise of being face to face with God forever in Revelation 21 and 22.
My Friends,
I am a blessed bird. I heard how it ends. And I must say; it ends very well for the follower of Jesus.
Few visited my island rock; those who did were left to rot—trouble makers and prisoners of Rome. One of them was different. His crime, you ask? He was one of the Twelve, a disciple; a believer in Jesus and preacher of His Gospel. His name was John.
You know the beginning of the story; the Sacred Book describes creation as good and man as very good. Then the Fall and its awful consequence. Kicked out of the Garden; intimacy and blessing replaced by separation and curse—creation’s groan echoing through the centuries. Then He comes; the promised Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth. Yet few believe; there is His suffering and His cross. Does the story end in a tomb? No; there is resurrection and ascension and the church. Yet still so small, Christians so few—is there more to the story? There is; please listen to me well.
I spent as much time around John as he would allow; sometimes encircling, sometimes sneaking near—always in hope of him speaking. For his visions from God were as vivid as they were real; he spoke out loud of what he saw and he spoke out loud of what he heard. It was Jesus. It was heaven. It was more. There was much about what was to happen soon; defeat and ruin for those who rejected the Messiah and the same for those who oppressed His church. But it was the end of his visions; the last thing Jesus showed him that made John most cheer.
And as he relived the image and muttered what he saw; in response I had to soar, singing the greatness of the Creator God’s victory—of a Paradise lost, but found; of a Paradise taken, but regained. John saw the end, and it is glorious.
There shall be a new heaven and a new earth for all who by faith belong to Jesus. It shall be Eden and more; for the Garden is a city. The Tree of Life is there; and so is the river flowing with the water of life. And there is His Throne; from it came the promise of no more tears, no more pain, and no more death. John walked Patmos, praising God and repeating more words of heaven’s pledge: “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face…and night will be no more. They will need no light or lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever…” What words! And seeing Him face to face? This is the greatest blessing of all.
You see my friends; it ends very well for the believer. The way may be hard and this life difficult, but time here is short and eternity is forever. And best of all, you shall see Him face to face.
Long ago, He promised He would bring you back. And He does!
To God alone be the glory,
The Seagull