Crossroads Church

DEVOTIONS:  Dec 10 & 11, 2011

PASSAGE: Revelations

Revelations has lots of bad stuff happen and then lots of good stuff happen. The good news is Satan and his evil forces are forever defeated. Revelation 21 describes what awaits those who put their faith/hope in Jesus Christ. And what I find interesting is that God brings heaven to us. Everything is made new.

Revelation 21:3-4 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are [read these last 2 words with me] gone forever.”

Vs. 4 contains the 2 most beautiful words ever heard: no more. What will life be like for those who follow Christ? What will life be like for all eternity? 2 words—no more. No more war. No more cancer. No more custody battles. No more divorce. No more pain. No more loneliness. No more abuse. No more sickness. No more racism. No more hunger.

The Book of Revelation is our reminder that regardless of how bleak things have been…and how grim things are today in our lives and world, the best is yet to come. Friends, we know the ending. And it’s really, really, really good. And when you know how things end, it changes everything.  It gives us a reason to move into 2012 with hope and confidence. It gives us a reason to worship this Jesus who has come and will come again to make all things right. And it gives us a reason to point everyone we know to him.

DEVOTIONAL POINT: When we know the ending it changes how we should live. We need to be ushering the kingdom of God to this earth by helping his Kingdom be realized through what we do. What’s your “no-more” that you long the world to be free of? It can be something that you can help eliminate like, fighting amongst family, helping those in need, etc…. If you feel comfortable share what you are passionate about to help elevate the world from a certain types of evil.

Music Summary…Why we picked what we did?
1. Angels We Have Heard On High—Opener. Christmas tune.

2. Glory To God Forever—Song of Declaration. Declaring who God is and singing forever his praise in eternity through the end of time.

3. Holy—Song of Preparation. God is the Holy God of the universe who has sent his Son and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

4. We Are Waiting—Point Song.

5. Song of Hope—Song of Response. Looking forward to the day in anticipation when Christ will return and be our hope from Heaven.