Heaven
“And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And he sat upon the throne said, “Behold I make all things new.’”
Revelation 21:2, 5, KJV
Everything that made Jerusalem — like all cities — torn apart, dangerous and heartbreaking is gone. Now, you can walk the streets in peace. Children can play unattended in the parks. No stranger goes by with whom you can’t imagine a fast friend. Jerusalem has become what those who loved it always dreamed of and what always was in their dreams. This new Jerusalem is what seems to be the secret of heaven. Heaven might be the new Chicago or San Francisco.
It was always buried like a treasure in all of us, the best we had to become. There were times when you could almost see it. To speak of heavenly music or a heavenly day isn’t always to gush, but sometimes to catch a glimpse of something. “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.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV)
If the new is to be born, the old has to die. It is the law of things. For the best to happen, the worst must stop happening … the worst we are, the worst we do. Maybe it’s not as difficult as it sounds. It was a hardened criminal with minutes of death, after all, who said only, “Jesus, remember me …” and that turned out to be enough. “… today you will be with me in paradise” was the answer he managed to hear (Luke 23:42-43, NIV).
