1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 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.” 6 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. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” ~ Revelation 21:1-7
One of my favorite hymns is Blessed Assurance. I think the author really hits the nail on the head when she says:
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Jesus is ours, and we are His. This relationship we have with our Savior is just a foretaste of eternity with Him. The love, joy, peace, etc. we have and enjoy here in this life are nothing compared to eternity with Christ. It’s just a taste of what’s to come. A taste of the promise.
To me, that’s encouraging. Those moments in worship when you feel His presence and the Holy Spirit fills you are just a little taste of what it will be like in eternity when we are on the New Earth and the LORD Jesus Himself will physically live with us. And in that day He will wipe away every tear, and all will be made new.
Encourage yourself with these things. Encourage others with these things. All of the pain and suffering in this world cannot compare to those moments, let alone all of eternity.
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him”—
1 Corinthians 2:9
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Remember The Foretaste.