Everyone you meet with live forever. You’ve never met a mere mortal. Everyone you encounter—whether your neighbor, coworker, spouse, or child—is eternal. The Scripture is clear that we were made for eternity and will enjoy everlasting joy in heaven or everlasting sorrow in hell. Thus, there is an urgency of eternity that I pray you sense this day.
The last chapter of the Bible—Revelation 22-offers one last glimpse of the eternal glory that awaits those who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Over the last two issues, we began a tour through heaven in Revelation 22:1-3. In this issue, I invite you to join me as we continue our tour and feel, Lord willing, the urgency of the eternity that awaits us. Today we’ll glimpse Revelation 22:4-5:
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
In this text, I want you to see that incomparable fellowship with God awaits us in heaven. Augustine of Hippo memorably remarked: “You [God] have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.” We were made to fellowship with God and there will always be a restless angst in our souls until we were fully and finally reunited to Him in heaven. This fellowship will be fourfold:
You Will See Him
A day is coming when you will “see his face” (Revelation 22:4a). You will behold Him who you’ve never seen. Your faith will become sight. All your doubts will disappear. All you fears will fade. Your faith will be vindicated. Your soul will be satisfied. Take heart: Incomparable fellowship awaits you in heaven. You will see Him.
You Will Belong to Him
A day is coming when “His name will be on [your] forehead” (Revelation 22:4b). This is a poetic way to describe His full and final ownership of you. You will belong to Him. You are not a stranger or enemy. You are a friend. Just as your surname identifies you as belonging to your parents or to your spouse, so too his name identifies you as belonging to Him. You will be safe in his arms. Forever His. Take heart: Incomparable fellowship awaits you in heaven. You will belong to Him.
You Will Know Him
A day is coming when “Night will be no more. [You] will need no light or sun, for the Lord God will be [your] light” (Revelation 22:5a). All darkness, distance, doubt, and despair that separate you from God will be no more. You will know Him. His light will shine upon you. The joy of daytime will be forevermore. Perpetual dawn will fill your soul with anticipation. Take heart: Incomparable fellowship awaits you in heaven. You will know Him.
You Will Reign with Him
Finally, a day is coming when “[you] will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5b). Victory will be won. Triumph will be yours in Christ. You will mysteriously and marvelously “reign” with Christ forever. I dare not suggest the wonders of this promised reality. But take heart: Incomparable fellowship awaits you in heaven. You will reign with Him!
This is the future you’ve longed for. This is the freedom you’ve never felt. This is the fulfillment you’ve never known. This is the fellowship you’ve never had. All these glories and more are yours in Christ. Trust Him this day and this glimpse of glory will be yours. In Christ, the best really is yet to come!
