And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. . .and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. . . For the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:1, 3 NKJV
My morning wake up call from my daughter was filled with joy. Today is her birthday. As soon as I stumbled into her room, she said, "I want to open my present." My plans had been for her to open her gift when we went out for lunch as a family today; but knowing the wait would spoil her morning, I said, "Okay, you can open it."
Sitting in her recliner in her nightclothes, she literally ripped the package open, moaning as she discovered tape on the box. She knew several things I had purchased for she had been with me - small items, costume jewelry and a word find book; however, the big gift was hidden in her birthday card. She was ecstatic when she opened the card to find a Disney gift card, for we have a fall trip to Disney World scheduled. She screamed and ran to my chair. She hugged me three times.
That gift card is really just a promise of future benefits. Right now it is just a piece of plastic, but it's eventual worth is real. I paid for it. She will enjoy the benefits at a later time, and she is celebrating the gift.
We have received a gift card from our Savior too. We have some of its benefits today with our salvation and its blessings. However, there is so much more yet to come. His Word promises a new heaven and a new earth with no pain, no tears, no sorrow, and no death. I don't have all of that yet, but it is coming. Jesus paid for it. It was His gift to us all. We have a gift card in His Word.
Today I am choosing to lavish thanks on Jesus! He gave me the best gift. I don't have it all now, but I know future benefit will be here soon. I celebrate the promises of His continued gift today, for I have opened His gift to me. It made me happy too!!
My morning wake up call from my daughter was filled with joy. Today is her birthday. As soon as I stumbled into her room, she said, "I want to open my present." My plans had been for her to open her gift when we went out for lunch as a family today; but knowing the wait would spoil her morning, I said, "Okay, you can open it."
Sitting in her recliner in her nightclothes, she literally ripped the package open, moaning as she discovered tape on the box. She knew several things I had purchased for she had been with me - small items, costume jewelry and a word find book; however, the big gift was hidden in her birthday card. She was ecstatic when she opened the card to find a Disney gift card, for we have a fall trip to Disney World scheduled. She screamed and ran to my chair. She hugged me three times.
That gift card is really just a promise of future benefits. Right now it is just a piece of plastic, but it's eventual worth is real. I paid for it. She will enjoy the benefits at a later time, and she is celebrating the gift.
We have received a gift card from our Savior too. We have some of its benefits today with our salvation and its blessings. However, there is so much more yet to come. His Word promises a new heaven and a new earth with no pain, no tears, no sorrow, and no death. I don't have all of that yet, but it is coming. Jesus paid for it. It was His gift to us all. We have a gift card in His Word.
Today I am choosing to lavish thanks on Jesus! He gave me the best gift. I don't have it all now, but I know future benefit will be here soon. I celebrate the promises of His continued gift today, for I have opened His gift to me. It made me happy too!!
