It Is Done

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-27-2022

Revelation 21:6-8

 

A.  Verse 6.  "And he that sat upon the throne."  Throughout the past 7,000+ years, Satan, and his angels along with the ungodly of this world, have done their best to dethrone almighty God.  I wonder how that worked out for them?  I am being facetious at this point as they are ALL at home in the Lake of Fire.

 

Satan's Foolish Plan - Isaiah 14:12-14  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!  (13)  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:  (14)  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

 

God's Permanent Power - Isaiah 6:1-3  In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

 

B.  Just to let men know that God cannot, and God will not be dethroned.  It matters not what they think, He will not go away.  As Dr. S. M. Lockridge said:

 

"You can't get Him out of your mind. You can't get Him off of your hand. You can't outlive Him, And you can't live without Him. The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him. Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him. The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree. Herod couldn't kill Him. Death couldn't handle Him, And the grave couldn't hold Him."

 

C.  Verse 6.  "And he … said unto me, It is done."  I am reminded of the times that I was doing something that I did not necessarily like, and it was finally finished.  I shoveled the last shovel full or was driving the last nail, etc. I usually say, "That is the one I was looking for."  The end of history is the beginning of the future.  That 7000+ years is past with all its troubles, trials, testing, and tribulation are finally done and the future of perfection and peace has come.

 

D.  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."  Revelation 1:11  "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:"  Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet: figuratively only (from its use as a numeral) the first.  God is the beginning of all things; He is the origin of all things because He is the First of all things!  Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet: (figuratively) the finality.  He was before all things, and He will be after all things.

 

E.  "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."  In the end of the Bible, the Holy Ghost reiterates that salvation is personal responsibility!  "I will give to him" removes all doubt as to the privilege and promise of salvation to all who come.  In John 6:37 says, "and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."  Until the end of the 7000 years, the Door of salvation will be readily available for all who "thirst."  The Fountain is Christ Jesus, the "water of life" is the Christ Jesus the Word of God, and "freely" is the price that was paid by Christ Jesus as our Propitiation on the cross of Calvary.

 

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

 

F.  Verse 7.  "He that overcometh."  The overcoming is not of works, lest any man should boast.  The overcoming is defined in 1 John 5:4-5,  "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  (5)  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"  "shall inherit all things." 

 

Galatians 4:6-7  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  (7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

1 Peter 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

 

G.  "And I will be his God, and he shall be my son."  Many have the wrong idea about the relationship of the believer with God.  They teach that a saved man or woman can eventually become a lost person again.  The Bible teaches us that though fellowship with God can be broken, relationship with God cannot be broken.  In the human aspect, we who are born of our parents carry their DNA.  As long as we live on this earth, they are our parents, and we are their children.  So, it is with the spiritual birth of the believer.  Notice the personal aspect of this verse.  "And I will be his God!"  "And he shall be my son."

 

H.  Verse 8.  In verses 7-8, we see a distinct difference between the faith and lives of the saved and unsaved.  The new creature verses the old creature.  The new man verses the old man.  In this verse, we find the horrific promise given to the unbeliever.  The word "But" is used to show contrast.  "The fearful, and unbelieving" verses the "fearless and believing."  This is illustrated in the Bible:

 

1 John 4:15-19  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  (16)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  (17)  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  (18)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  (19)  We love him, because he first loved us.

 

Fear is the opposite of faith.  The "fearful" are those who were afraid to confess the Lord Jesus because of their unbelief while the "fearless" are those came to Christ Jesus in faith and who love the Lord Jesus. 

 

J.  "And the abominable."  Things mentioned in the Bible that are "abominable" to God.  The Bible uses the words "abomination," "abominations," and "abominable" 152 times.  Things that are detestable to God; things that are idolatrous before God.   Things that are perverted and evil.  Our world is full of them but the world to come will not contain them.

 

K.  "And murders."  Murder is different from killing.  The Bible is clear that there are times when a life must be taken, such as in cases of war, self-defense, and crimes that require the death sentence.  Murder is different!  Murder is the unlawful, malicious taking of life!  With malice aforethought is a phrase that is used in indictments.  "Murderer" is differentiated from "manslayer" in the bible or from the accidental taking of life.  Murder can be the malicious taking of life of both the born and the unborn.  Abortion is murder!  Life comes from God and is to be handled as such.

 

L.  "Whoremongers."  This word comes from a root word "pornos," from which we get the word pornography.  Pornography is prevalent in these days of "information" and "social media."  In not only applies to the one caught up in pornography but also to the one who sells or promotes it.  It implies the selling of or prostitution. "Debauchery" would be a good word to use in our day.  We find pornography in almost every place that we go from department stores to the advertisement industry.  Nakedness is still a sin!

 

M.  "Sorcerers."  Here we normally think of witches and witchcraft.  The Bible says that we are not to suffer a witch to live in Exodus 22:18.  But the word "witchcraft" comes from the Greek word "pharmakeia" from which we get our word "pharmacy."  To bring something under the power of something.  We live in days of addiction as the minds of people are impaired through the use of alcohol and drugs.  They have introduced the words "recreational" when speaking of the initialization of such usages.  The Bible teaches abstinence.

 

N.  "Idolaters."  An image worshipper.  Dr. Billy Kanoy used to say that "there are idols that are metal and there are idols that are mental."  There are "churches" that continue to use statues and images as part of worship as well as heathen people who worship images.  It is not acceptable to be a heathen worshipper of images but totally acceptable to be a church that worships such.  The First Commandment forbids the making of and worship of idols.  An idol can also be mental or anything that comes between man and God.

 

O.  "And all liars."  A lie is an untruth.  Something that is spoken of as being the truth but is deceitfully erroneous.  It comes from the word "pseudes" from which we get our word pseudo or false.  To intentionally deceive someone is to lie.  God hates lying.

 

P.  "Shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."  Heaven will not be home to those who do such things unless they turn in repentance to God and place their faith in the finished work of Christ.  All our neighbors in the new heaven and new earth will be good ones!  Someone once said that "hell was truth realized too late."

The Purpose of The Cross

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-27-2022

Galatians 6:14

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  In this verse, which is my Life Verse, we find the importance of the Cross of Christ.  The Cross of Christ is the Focal Point of the Bible.  It is here that “eternity hinges.”  It is the bridge between Adam’s Fall and eternity.

 

1.  For four thousand years, from the fall of Adam along with the first Messianic Promise in Genesis 3:15, the world awaited the coming of the “Seed of the Woman,” God’s Messiah.

 

2.  For the past two thousand years, God’s people have looked back to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

 

3.  Looking both forward in the Old Testament and back in the New Testament are acts of saving faith. 

 

B.  “God forbid that I should glory” covers it all.  Our glory is to be found in what Christ did and now in what we have done.  It makes salvation an act of grace and not of works.

 

C.  The preaching of the cross has a two-fold purpose found in this verse concerning the cross of Christ.  The song Rock Of Ages said it all: “be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

1.  The first purpose is salvation:  “by whom the world is crucified unto me.” 

 

2.  The second purpose of the cross is sanctification:  “and I unto the world.”  

 

1.  The Realization of The Cross - God Sacrificed His Own Son -  “Truly, this man was the Son of God” - Mark 15:33-39 - At The Cross Was Manifested The Holiness Of God.

 

1.  God’s Holiness Separated Him From Sinful Man - Habakkuk 1:13  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? 

 

Job 15:15  Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are                                       not clean in his sight. 

 

Psalms 5:4  For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 

 

1 Timothy 6:16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

2.  God’s Holiness Demanded Sacrifice And Full Payment For Sin - Nahum 1:3a  The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:

 

2 Peter 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

 

3.  God’s Holiness Demanded A Perfect Sacrifice For Sin - His Perfect Son  - 1 Peter 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

2.  The Forgiveness of The Cross - “Father, Forgive Them” - Luke 23:27-34 - At The Cross Was Manifested The Sinfulness Of Man And God’s Love For Sinners.

 

1.  God’s Hatred For Sin - The Sentence of Death - Ezekiel 18:20  The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 

 

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 

James 1:14-15  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

 

2.  God’s Love For Sinners - A Spotless Lamb Dying On An Old Rugged Cross For Sinful Man - 1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

 

1 Timothy 1:9-10  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,   For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

 

3.  The Salvation of The Cross - “Lord, Remember Me” - Luke 22:39-43 - At The Cross Was Manifested The Remedy Of God.

 

1.  The Willingness Of God To Send His Only Begotten Son - John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

 

Romans 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

 

2.  The Willingness Of Jesus Christ To Suffer For Our Sin - Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

 

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

 

3.  The Acceptance Of The Cross As Final Payment For Sin - Isaiah 53:10-11  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

 

4.  The Preaching of The Cross - “That ye might believe” - John 19:32-35 - At The Cross Was Manifested The Love Of God And His Willingness To Sacrifice His Own Son.

 

1.  The Contradiction Of The Cross - An Infinite God Smitten At The Hands Of Finite Man -  Hebrews 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

 

John 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 

 

2.  The Compassion Of The Cross - A Sovereign God Caring For Rebellious Man - Matthew 14:14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

 

Psalms 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 

 

Psalms 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 

 

Psalms 111:4  He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. 

 

Psalms 145:8  The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

 

                        Luke 5:32  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

Is Any Merry?

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-23-2022

James 5:13

Introduction: 

 

A.  Last week, I preached on "Is Any Among You Afflicted?"  Affliction is different from sickness as it hardship that comes through living for Christ.  In the First Mention, Israel was "afflicted" by Pharoah and Egypt.  Satan and the world.  In the Last Mention, we find that Satan is the culprit.

 

B.  Next week, I will more than likely preach on "Is Any Sick Among You?"

 

C.  Located between the two, affliction and sickness, the Holy Spirit put the word "merry."  Someone once said, "You are going into trouble, you are in trouble, or you are coming out of it.  If you are happy and content today, then this message is for you.  If you are in trouble today, you will come out eventually and become merry.

 

D.  I believe that our verse is set up this way because we tend to worry about the bad times before they come at the expense of the good times that we now have.

 

Matthew 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

E.  The Bible has much to say about merriment.  It is a good thing!  It is a condition to be enjoyed; it a condition to be thankful for.  Someone said, "Worrying today is like paying interest on a loan that you may never have to take out."  Worry never fixed anything but it stress remains the biggest cause of death!

 

1.  A Merry Heart Maketh A Cheerful Countenance – Proverbs 15:13 - Most people today look like a mule that has been eating saw briers!  Every where you go, you see sad faces, hear cursing and complaining!  Smiles are contagious!

 

2.  A Merry Heart Maketh A Continual Feast – Proverbs 15:15 - Enjoyment of life!  We are so blessed and yet people are still not satisfied and live lives of quiet desperation!

 

3.  A Merry Heart Doeth Good Like A Medicine – Proverbs 17:12 - A smiling face or “drieth the bone!”

 

F.  Another reason for this sermon is that people can be merry and fail to give praise and thanks to God for it.  Many enjoy a wonderful meal but never bow their heads and give thanks to God for it.  It is natural to seek God in affliction and sickness while forgetting God in the good times.

 

Ecclesiastes 8:15  Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

 

Psalms 95:1-3  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  (2)  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  (3)  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

 

Psalms 100:4-5  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

1.  If you are merry, if you are happy, if things are going great for you, YOU NEED TO REJOICE!

 

First Mention - Exodus 18:8-9  And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.  (9)  And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. (What a day this was after 430 years in Egypt)

 

Last Mention - Revelation 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (What a day that will be when we are married to our Groom)

 

Psalms 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 

"Alway"  is singular for a reason.  "Lo, I am with you alway" is also singular.  Always covers an expanse of time such as a lifetime.  Alway takes on the meaning of "in every instance of life."  Good times and bad times.  When times are good, Rejoice!  Do not take them for granted.

 

2.  If you are merry, be thankful.  Unthankful is to be Unthinkful which is to be Ungrateful.  This may seem too be redundant, but it is not.  You do not have to look far to find someone who is having it worse than you are! We are so prone to take things for granted.  To treat the good times of life as something that we deserve and, therefore, just enjoy them.

 

Let me give you a good example of what I am saying.  So many times, we go to a find restaurant and eat a great meal.  As we look around, we see a few stop and take the time to give thanks to God for the meal.  Most think that an excellent meal is something deserved.

 

Be thankful for the good times.  Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1  Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.  (10)  Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.  (12:1)  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

 

If we are to rejoice "alway," then how much more should we rejoice when things are good!

 

3.  If you are merry, be worshipful.  If times are good, it is the Lord who allowed it.  Psalm: to play or to sing forth praises; to make music; to worship; to celebrate!

 

1 Chronicles 16:7-10  Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.  (8)  Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.  (9)  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.  (10)  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

 

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Eternity

 Temple Baptist Church - 3-20-2022

Revelation 21:1-5

 

A.  Verse 1.  For the next few weeks, we will be looking ahead into eternity.  What is eternity? A forever lack of time that holds neither past nor future.  An eternal moment.  Eternity is a doctrine to which we hold but one that is hard to explain.  We serve an eternal God.  One who has neither beginning nor end.  Many people deny God because they cannot understand nor grasp an eternal Being.  When we see the new heaven and new earth, things will be eternally different from what we know today.

 

B.  Time will be no more.  Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are in the Lake of Fire.  The wicked of earth are no longer.  Sin and sinners have received their final judgment and have joined the forementioned in the Lake of Fire.  For this, my heart aches!  The heaven and the earth of old have been purified and the new heaven and new earth are here in all their perfection as the curse of sin is gone. 

 

C.  We will now see our eternal home in the New Jerusalem.  The Jerusalem of old will have perished in the renovation of the earth and I believe that the Bible implies that the New Jerusalem will sit in its place.  To hover over the earth or to sit on the earth is not clear but where everything started, I believe that everything will end.  By end, I simply mean the culmination of 7,000 years on earth have come to an end and our eternal earth returned as it was to its original glory and intent.

 

D.  The city of Jerusalem has been called "The Eternal City" is manifested in the New Jerusalem.  As to when the New Jerusalem was made, no one knows but our Lord referenced it in John 14:2,  "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."  Our Lord, the Creator of all things, spoke of its existence, not its building in this verse.  It was already there.

 

E.  Verse 2.  "And I John saw the holy city"  The New Jerusalem is a holy city.  "new Jerusalem" The New Jerusalem is a new city in which no one has ever lived.  "coming down from God out of heaven"  The New Jerusalem is a heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.  "prepared as a bride"  In the Old Testament, the groom could not go get his bride until it was established that her home was ready to be moved into.  The New Jerusalem is a perfectly prepared city for a perfectly prepared people.  "adorned"  The Bible has more to say about this adornment later in the chapter, but the New Jerusalem is the most beautiful city ever beheld.  "for her husband."  The New Jerusalem is a purposed city.  It was made for the Husband's bride to live in.

 

F.  Verse 3.  Once more, God will live with men.  This was the purpose of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and the building of two Temples:

 

Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness.  Exodus 25:8  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 

 

Exodus 25:22  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

 

Solomon's Temple build by Solomon.  2 Samuel 7:12-13  And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  (13)  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

 

Zerubbabel's Temple build by Ezra.  Ezra 1:2  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

 

Zechariah 4:8-9  Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,  (9)  The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

 

With the Old Testament Saint.  Job 23:10-14  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  (11)  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  (12)  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.  (13)  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  (14)  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

 

In The Heart of the Believer.  Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

G.  The eternal presence of God with His people.  As "the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day," the Voice of the LORD God will walk with us in the New Jerusalem.  As the LORD God fellowshipped with Adam, so will be our fellowship with Him in eternity.  He will dwell with us and we shall be His people and He will be our God.  This was the original intent of man's creation and it will be the eternal state of his people.

 

Psalms 23:1-6  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  (2)  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  (3)  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  (4)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  (5)  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  (6)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

H.  Verses 1, 4, 5.  In these verses, we are allowed some insight into the eternal state of mankind in the new heaven and the new earth.

 

No More Sea.  Currently three-fourths of the earth’s surface is water.  In chapter 20, the sea gave up the dead which were in it because there will be no more sea.  First, the seas of earth are its purification plants.  In our current water cycle, much of the purification of water comes through the agitation and salt of the sea.  Salt is used for savor, preservation, and cleansing.  There will be no defilement and no need of purification.  Also, the climatic conditions of the new earth will return to the beginning where the earth will be watered from withing by a mist rising from the ground.  Also, the three-fourths of the earth's surface will be needed to sustain the saved of all the ages because of the multitudes that will live there.

 

Genesis 2:4-6  These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,  (5)  And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.  (6)  But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

 

No More Tears.  I love the phrase "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  This is a very personal thing.  As our mothers wiped away the tears that fell from our eyes and brought comfort to us, God will wipe all tears from our eyes which speaks of eternal comfort and joy.

 

Matthew 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

 

No More Death.  A land where we will never grow old and feeble!  No more tears because there will be no more death of loved ones.  Today, we die to go be with the Lord, then we shall forever be with the Lord and our bodies, because of lack of sin, will decay no more. 

 

John 11:35  Jesus wept.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

No More Sorrow.  Because of the entrance of sin into this world, we are brought into this world through the sorrow of childbirth and lives filled with the sorrows of sin, disappointment, sickness, and death.  These things will be non-existent in eternity!  God's peoples will be an eternally happy people.

 

Genesis 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

No More Pain.  I love this portion of the verse.  The older we get, the more that pain becomes a way of life.  Someone said, "If you cannot endure pain, die young!"  The pain of the body but also the pain that is spiritual as we see things that disturb us transpire.  The New Jerusalem, along with the new earth, will be perfect places for God's children to dwell.

 

J.  "For the former things are passed away."  Passed away means that these things that bring about tears in this life will be no longer and the memories of them will no longer bring tears in eternity to come.  "What a day, Glorious day that will be!"