​Family is very important.  It is for me.  I would do anything to help my family be happy, prosperous, and successful.  In fact, much of my life has revolved around my family. I believe wholeheartedly that my family is a true gift of grace from God, and I am certainly a blessed man because of my beautiful children and the twenty-eight years I spent with my late wife, Carrie.
 
So, when I come across verses like this morning’s text, I cringe a little at the words of Jesus.  I try to imagine how I would feel as a father if I heard my son or daughter say, “Who are my brothers and sisters and mother?” Then, pointing to a group of strangers and saying, “These are my brothers and sisters and mother.”  I think as a father, I would be hurt and somewhat offended.  
 
I have chosen today’s passage simply because when I used to read this text, my response was, “Whatchu Talkin’ Bout Jesus?”  I mean, isn’t family supposed to be the most important thing?  Isn’t staying true, loyal, and faithful to your family until the very end a biblical concept?  Aren’t we supposed to love our families unconditionally and accept them for who they are, whether we approve of their lifestyle or not?  Didn’t God create the family so man would not be alone?  These are all questions that come to mind for me, and as I studied for this sermon, I began to see what Jesus meant in his reply to his brothers and sisters and mother.  I can’t say that all my questions were answered to my liking, but they were answered, nonetheless.
 
Today, we will examine Mark 3:31–35 and gain insight into what Jesus was discussing.  Hopefully, as we learn together, we will begin to see family in a little different light and see that the family is something far greater than what many of us may think or believe.  
 
Mark 3:31 – 32
To start, as much as this verse may make me wonder what Jesus was talking about, I think we should know that what he said was scandalous.  The family bond in Jesus’ time and in the OT times was loyal and long-lasting.  It was common for children to live near their parents (if not actually live with them).  Every aspect of life revolved around the family.  In many cases, the family was a business unit, and they would share everything in common.  As parents aged, the children would care for and provide for them.  As they neared death, the children would put their lives on hold and wait for their parents to die so they could tend to the body and bury them in the family plot for a proper burial.
 
In ancient times, loyalty to the family was important, not just for the benefit of the family, but also for society as the people of God.  Breaking the family bond was not considered good among first-century Jews.  So, this was why Jesus’ words were scandalous.  However, Jesus wasn’t speaking flippantly here.  He had a reason for saying what he said, and I think it applies to us today.
 
Up to this point in his life, Jesus has begun to garner some attention.  He has gathered his 12 disciples, has been healing the sick and casting out demons, and has given many controversial sermons.  The attention he was getting was not all positive, especially among the religious leaders.

There were murmurings of Jesus being a crazy man, a demon-possessed man, and a false prophet.  He was beginning to be despised by the leaders and was becoming the butt of jokes in the public eye.  So, when his family heard all he was doing, they took a trip to Capernaum, went to the house where he was teaching, and asked to speak to Jesus.  I am sure they were embarrassed by him at this point.  They were beginning to think he was crazy, and they wanted to stop the lunacy, so to speak.  Ultimately, I think they wanted to squelch any further public attention, especially from the religious leaders.
 
Some scholars and Bible teachers have suggested that they may have been trying to protect him because they did not understand what he was up to.  Yes, Mary did know that Jesus was a special child and God was going to do great things through him, but I don’t know if what she saw Jesus doing at this time was what God meant.  They thought he was mad! As his family is outside the house, they ask someone to tell Jesus they are outside and want to speak to him.  His response was not what people were expecting. 
 
Mark 3:33 – 35.  
Jesus was not denouncing his family, nor saying he was not part of it.  Instead, he is redefining his family and who this family consists of.  Jesus’ response is radical, and in one fell swoop, he has cut the ties of the traditional family and given it a new look. Essentially, Jesus is starting a new family or expanding the family.  His bloodline family probably did not realize it, but by trying to stop him, they were going against God’s will.  David E. Garland writes, “Life under God is not defined in relationships in a biological family, which is geared for the preservation of the family line, its wealth and honor.  One’s ultimate devotion is to God alone who is the head of this unique family that consists of all types of people.  The only requirement to this family is commitment to God.” Jesus’ redefinition of family is massive because at first, his response seems heartless and offensive.  But when you look at what he was saying, he was speaking encouragement to the people in the house, because these were men and women who had left their families to come and follow Jesus.  In doing so, they were now part of a new and much larger family.
 
Jesus defines family not just in terms of blood relations or marriage.  He is saying true family is found in shared commitments to God.  He is saying that people who are committed to God have a stronger bond with one another than with their true blood relatives, especially with those who have no relationship with God. This is a controversial statement to make today, so how much more do you think it was in the first century when family was all that mattered?
 
The people Jesus was calling his family were those whose allegiance was to God.  This meant submitting oneself to Him and following him to bring glory to His name and share the good news of the Kingdom of God.  This was the common bond.
 
So, was Jesus saying that families are bad?  No, not at all. He is saying that family is much more than we think. The Bible teaches that we are to be respectful to our parents, we are to love our children, and not provoke them to wrath.  We are to love, honor, and respect our husbands and wives. We are to protect, support, and care for our families… this is biblical.  However, our loyalty should always be to God first and then to family.
 
Jesus shows us our families are a lot bigger than we thought.  Your true brothers and sisters are those who are aligned with following Jesus and walking in his ways.  In fact, some of us here have closer bonds with someone who is not a family member but is a believer in Christ.
 
 If I could sum up Jesus’s point, it’s “The body of Christ, the Church, and His people is true family.”  Our devotion is to God alone, not to our blood relatives. These are big words because sometimes our commitment to Jesus Christ causes unwanted division within our families, and for some of us, our loyalties must lie in doing God’s will rather than appeasing family.  That may sound radical, but I do believe it is what Jesus meant.  He went against his family's wishes himself because they did not understand what God was up to, and He knew he had to do God’s bidding instead of being loyal to his family. Thankfully, his mother and many of his brothers and sisters came around and finally grasped what God was doing, and this may be the case for some of you. Jesus was suggesting that a family that is blood-related AND bound together by loyalty to Him is strong and impenetrable.  This is the true family.
 
This is my prayer for every family here.  I pray that your family is bound together and kept by faith in Christ.    
 
Application
So what is our response today?  What are we to do with these words of Jesus?  

1. Understand that we who are in Jesus Christ are family.  This body of believers is knit together as a family by the common bond of Jesus Christ. We are family.
2. Treat one another as family.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ, so let us treat one another with respect, dignity, and love.  May we be quick to forgive and show endless amounts of grace, mercy, and compassion to one another.

 
Conclusion
Is family important?  To use one of my favorite Wisconsin quotes, “You Bet!”  This radical new concept of Jesus may be controversial; however, I pray that we wouldn’t look at it as a negative or heartless response.  Instead, I pray that it would enlarge our understanding of family and remind us that we are part of a larger family.  A family that is connected by one common love and loyalty to a great God who, in his love and care, gave us the ultimate model of what a true family is and how it should function.  So may we as a church body live as a family joined together by the love, grace, and mercy of God; showing forgiveness, compassion, love, loyalty, and blessings to one another because we are family.
 
 

Today, we begin a new summer sermon series titled, "Whatchu Talkin' Bout Jesus?"
Some of you who are around my age or older may remember the old television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. The show centered around two young brothers from Harlem, Arnold and Willis Jackson, who were adopted by a wealthy businessman named Philip Drummond and moved to Upper Manhattan. Every week, it seemed there was some misunderstanding, a lesson to learn, or a situation that left Arnold scratching his head, especially when his brother Willis said something that didn't make sense to him or he didn’t like. Arnold would respond with his famous catchphrase, "Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?"

As I read through the Gospels, I sometimes feel like Arnold. Jesus often said things that confused people and even some things I did not like. He said things that challenged traditions. He said things that offended religious leaders. He said things that still cause Christians today to stop and ask, "Whatchu talkin' bout Jesus?"

The goal of this series is to examine some of those statements and understand what Jesus was saying. Some of these passages are simple, and some are very difficult. Some stretch our understanding. Some challenge our assumptions. As I prepared for this series, I was reminded of a quote by N.T. Wright, who once said, "I am going to talk about some things I don't really know about, thus continuing my theological education in public." I appreciate that honesty because we must approach Scripture with humility.

Mark 2:15-22

At first glance, this passage may seem like a collection of unrelated events. We see the calling of Levi (Matthew), the tax collector. We see Jesus eating with sinners. We see the Pharisees criticizing Him. We see questions about fasting. Then Jesus starts talking about garments, wineskins, and wine.

A lot is happening in these few verses. Yet underneath all of it is one major theme: Change is coming. Jesus is announcing that something new has arrived. The old religious system that the religious leaders cherished is being fulfilled in Him. The Kingdom of God has come, and everything is about to change.

The first change Jesus announces is that sinners are welcome in the presence of God. The story begins with the calling of Levi, whom we know better as Matthew. To us, that may not seem like a big deal. We hear the phrase "tax collector" and immediately think of someone who works for the IRS.

That is not how first-century Jews viewed tax collectors. Tax collectors were among the most despised people in society. They worked for Rome, the occupying power. They often collected more taxes than necessary and retained the excess funds for their own use. They became wealthy through corruption and exploitation. To the average Jew, a tax collector was a traitor.

If you were creating a list of people most likely to become a disciple of Jesus, Levi would have been near the bottom. Yet Jesus walked right up to him and said two simple words: "Follow Me." And he did.

Immediately afterward, Levi hosted a banquet and invited Jesus to dinner. The guest list consisted largely of tax collectors and sinners. The religious leaders saw what was happening and were outraged. Why? The religious leaders had developed a view of holiness that emphasized separation from sinners. In their minds, purity was maintained by avoiding sinful people.

And here, Jesus does exactly the opposite. He sat with them. He talked with them. He ate with them. He welcomed them. The religious leaders questioned the disciples and asked why Jesus would associate with such people. Jesus responded, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Notice what Jesus is saying. A doctor does not spend all day with healthy people. He goes where the sick are. A rescue team does not search for people who are already safe. They search for those who are lost. Jesus did not come to congratulate people on their righteousness. He came to save sinners. That should be tremendously encouraging to every person in this room.

Jesus came because humanity is broken. He came because we were lost. He came because we were spiritually sick and incapable of saving ourselves.

The Pharisees divided the world into two categories: the righteous and the sinners. Jesus divided the world into two categories as well, but not in the same way. There are sinners who know they need God's grace, and there are sinners who think they do not. The truth is that every one of us belongs in the same category. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. None of us deserves God's grace. None of us has earned salvation. Every one of us stands before God as a sinner in desperate need of mercy. That is the beauty of the Gospel. Jesus meets people where they are, but He loves them too much to leave them there. He welcomes them, forgives them, transforms them, and invites them into the family of God.

This should challenge the church today. If we are not careful, we can begin to think like the religious leaders. We can start viewing unbelievers primarily as problems instead of people. We can become angry at the culture while forgetting that the culture is filled with people made in God’s image. Sometimes Christians become experts at identifying sin but struggle to show compassion.

Jesus never compromised truth. He never ignored sin. But He also never withheld grace. The church should be the most welcoming place in the community for people who are searching for hope. People should not fear walking through our doors because they think they will be judged. They should know that they will be loved and welcomed.


Our responsibility is not to condemn people. Our responsibility is not to save people. Only Jesus redeems. Our responsibility is to love people the way Jesus loves them.

The second change Jesus announces is that the old and the new cannot simply be mixed together. The religious leaders then ask Jesus another question. Why don't your disciples fast? Fasting was an important spiritual discipline among the Jews. The Pharisees fasted regularly and viewed it as a sign of spiritual devotion.

Jesus answers their question with a series of illustrations. He first describes Himself as a bridegroom. Wedding celebrations were times of joy and feasting, not mourning and fasting. As long as the bridegroom was present, there was reason to celebrate. Then Jesus uses two illustrations. No one patches an old garment with new cloth. No one pours new wine into old wineskins.

Those examples may sound strange to us, but new wine expands as it ferments. Old wineskins become brittle and inflexible. If you pour new wine into an old wineskin, the wineskin will burst. Jesus was saying that something new had arrived.  He was not simply adding another tradition to Judaism. He was not offering minor adjustments to the existing religious system. He was fulfilling everything the Old Testament pointed toward. The Law pointed to Him. The sacrifices pointed to Him. The priesthood pointed to Him. The temple pointed to Him. The prophets pointed to Him. Everything was preparing the way for Jesus.
The old covenant was never intended to be God’s plan. It was preparing people for the coming Messiah. This does not mean the old covenant was bad. Far from it. The Law was good. The Law revealed God's character. But the Law could never save. It could reveal sin, but it could not remove sin. It could diagnose the disease, but it could not provide the cure. Only Jesus could do that.

The old covenant pointed toward salvation. Jesus accomplished salvation. The old system could not contain the fullness of what God was doing through Christ. The new wine required new wineskins.

Now, let me bring this into our world today. Most people do not like change. We like routines. We like familiarity. We like knowing what to expect. If many of us are honest, we would be perfectly content if life stayed exactly the way we like it forever. But life does not work that way. The world changes. Culture changes. Society changes. Technology changes. People change. The church must learn how to minister effectively within those changes.

Now, before anyone misunderstands me, I am not suggesting that biblical truth changes. God's Word does not change. The Gospel does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Truth remains truth. But methods can change. The way we communicate the Gospel can change. The way we reach people can change. The way we engage our community can change.

In fact, throughout church history, that has always been the case. The message remains the same, but the methods adapt. The Apostle Paul adapted his approach depending on his audience. Missionaries learn new languages. Bible translators make Scripture accessible to new generations and cultures. Churches use technology to reach people they could never reach before. The mission remains the same. The methods evolve. The mistake some churches make is refusing to change simply because it is new. The mistake other churches make is embracing every change because it is popular. Both approaches can be dangerous.

We do not reject something because it is new. We do not embrace something because it is new. Instead, we ask the question: Does this help us faithfully proclaim Jesus Christ? If it does, we should consider it. If it compromises biblical truth, we should reject it. The challenge is to hold tightly to the Gospel while holding loosely to our personal preferences. That requires wisdom. That requires humility. And that requires a willingness to put the mission ahead of our wants and desires.

Conclusion
As we close today, remember that Jesus was talking about change.

First, He announced that sinners are embraced by God. The grace of God extends to people whom society has written off. The Gospel is for tax collectors, sinners, outcasts, and broken people. In other words, the Gospel is for all of us.

Second, He announced that something radically new had arrived. The Kingdom of God came through Jesus Christ. The old covenant was being fulfilled, and salvation would now come through faith in Him.
​
The message was revolutionary then, and it remains revolutionary today. My prayer for our church is that we never lose sight of either truth. May we always welcome sinners because we remember that we are sinners saved by grace. May we always hold firmly to the unchanging truth of God's Word. And may we remain willing to change anything except the Gospel itself if it helps us bring one more person to faith in Jesus Christ.
​

Introduction
The Psalms remind me of a radio because they both receive and broadcast the many frequencies of human emotion and experience. Just as a radio tunes into different stations, the Psalms tune into the varied feelings and circumstances that people face every day. Many of the Psalms reflect the emotions the writer was experiencing at the moment they were composed. The comparison to a radio is especially fitting because the Psalms are songs, prayers, and poems offered to God, expressing a broad spectrum of human emotions. Within their pages, we find joy and sadness, faith and doubt, gratitude and grief, confidence and fear, peace and turmoil. The list goes on and on. The Psalms encompass the full range of human experience, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, all united by a single focus—the one true God.

John Calvin captured the essence of the Psalms when he wrote, “I may truly call this book an anatomy of all the parts of the soul, for no one can feel a moment of the spirit which is not reflected in this mirror. All sorrows, troubles, fears, doubts, hopes, pain, perplexities and stormy outbreaks by which the hearts of men are tossed have been depicted here to the very life.” Likewise, C. S. Lewis observed, “Most emphatically the Psalms must be read as poems; as lyrics, with all the hyperboles and emotional rather than logical connections which are proper to lyric poetry.”

What both men understood is that the Psalms are intended to speak primarily to the heart. While they certainly contain theological truth, they are not merely intellectual observations to be analyzed. They are deeply personal expressions of real people encountering a real God amid life's joys, struggles, victories, and failures. As we read them, we are invited not only to understand the emotions being expressed but also to bring our own emotions before God. In many cases, the Psalms leave little doubt about how the writer is feeling, and in doing so, they give voice to the emotions we often struggle to express ourselves.
 
Today, I have chosen Psalm 84 as my topic for my message.  This is a Psalm of anticipation and celebration.  Many Bible teachers believe that this Psalm was originally one that celebrated the pilgrimage of the Jew as they travelled to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple.  It was intended to encourage people to prepare for the delight, joy, and privilege of being a special guest in the House of God.  It was a Psalm of anticipation.  As the traveler journeyed to their destination, they would think about the awesomeness of worshiping God in the temple and the joy of dwelling in the presence of God.
 
Psalm 84
Vs 1:  The dwelling place of the Lord referred to the Temple in Jerusalem.  The Psalmist declares that it is lovely, not because of the beautiful architecture or the size of the building, but because it was the place that represented where God dwelt.  The presence of God was present in the Temple, and the Psalmist longed to be in this place, to worship in the presence of Almighty God.
             
Vs 2: “I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.” These are words spoken by a man who has no other desire but to be in the presence of the Lord most High.  Every part of his being cries out for God’s presence in his life.  The true object of the Psalmist’s devotion is not the actual Temple, but it is the God of the Temple.

Vs. 3:  "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself..." One can almost hear the envy in the psalmist's voice. He looks at the small birds that have built nests near the Temple and observes that they seem to enjoy a constant proximity to God's altar.
​
While the birds may not understand the significance of where they dwell, the psalmist certainly does. He wishes he could remain in God's presence as continually as they do. This verse reveals the depth of his longing. He is not satisfied with occasional visits to worship; he desires uninterrupted fellowship with God.

Vs. 4 – 5:  "What joy for those who can live in your house... What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord." The psalmist identifies two kinds of people who experience this blessing.

First, joyful are those who dwell in God's presence. Their lives are marked by worship and praise.

Second, joyful are those whose strength comes from God. They do not rely on their own wisdom, abilities, or resources. Their confidence rests in the Lord.

Our culture often views dependence as weakness, but Scripture presents dependence upon God as the source of true strength. The more we rely upon Him, the more we discover His faithfulness. Dependence on God is not a crutch—it is the pathway to blessing.

Vs 6 – 7: "When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs." The Valley of Weeping likely refers to a dry and difficult place. Whether it was a literal location or a symbolic picture of suffering, the message is clear.

The pilgrims still encountered hardship on their journey. Their destination did not eliminate the difficulties of travel. Yet because God was their strength, they transformed places of sorrow into places of blessing.

This is one of the most encouraging truths in the psalm. Faith does not exempt us from valleys, but it changes how we walk through them. God's presence can bring refreshment in the driest seasons of life. Those who trust Him move "from strength to strength" until they finally arrive before Him.

Vs. 8 – 9:  The psalm now shifts into prayer. The traveler cries out to God on behalf of Israel and her king. He understands that the welfare of God's people depends entirely upon God's favor and protection.

These verses remind us that worship and prayer are always meant to be together. Those who truly love God will naturally seek Him in prayer.

Vs 10: “A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.”

The Psalmist continues his prayer.  He declares that if given the choice in life, he would choose to spend one day in the presence of God than to spend 1,000 days anyplace else.  He would gladly be a servant in the presence of God than to be confined by the shackles of sin and evil.  This verse is just another way of saying there is nothing more in heaven or earth that can compare to being in the presence of God.  Imagine that!  This man is soooooo excited to enter into the presence of God that he can’t imagine being any other place on earth than in the place where he can meet with God.  
 
Vs. 11:  “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” The psalmist describes God as both a sun and a shield.

As the sun, God provides light, warmth, guidance, life, and joy. He illuminates our path and sustains us through every season.

As a shield, God protects His people from dangers seen and unseen. He surrounds them with His care and watches over them in times of trouble.

The psalmist goes on to declare that God gives grace and glory and withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. This does not mean God gives us everything we want. Rather, it means He faithfully provides everything we truly need. A loving Father never withholds what is good for His children.

Vs. 12:  “What joy for those who trust in you.” The psalm concludes where true blessing begins—with trust.

The happy and fulfilled person is not the wealthy person, the successful person, or even the religious person. The truly blessed person is the one who places his confidence completely in God.

Psalm 84 (For us today)
Psalm 84 is a beautiful portrait of the Psalmist’s longing to worship the Lord in His Temple. Yet it also speaks powerfully to Christians today.

In many ways, this psalm mirrors our own longing for heaven. Like the pilgrims journeying toward Jerusalem, we too are pilgrims journeying toward our eternal home. We know that one day we will stand in the presence of God in the heavenly sanctuary not made with human hands.

There is a sense of homesickness that every believer experiences from time to time. We know we belong somewhere else. We live in this world, but our citizenship is in heaven. Deep within our hearts is a longing to see our King face to face.

When we think about heaven, our minds often focus on its beauty. Revelation describes streets of gold, gates of pearl, the river of life, and the tree of life. Jesus spoke of preparing a place for us. Paul wrote of glorified bodies free from weakness and decay. Revelation promises there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.

Yet none of these things is what makes heaven truly glorious.

Heaven is glorious because God is there.

The greatest treasure of heaven is not the golden streets. It is not the mansions. It is not even the absence of suffering. The greatest treasure of heaven is the presence of God Himself.
What place could be more lovely than the dwelling place of God? It is a place of unparalleled beauty, incomparable splendor, and unimaginable glory because it is where the Creator of the universe dwells.

Does thinking about heaven stir your heart? Does it excite you to think that one day you will see Christ face to face? Does your soul long for that day?

If so, then you understand something of what the psalmist was feeling.
Yet there is another truth we must remember.

While we eagerly anticipate heaven, God is already present with us today.
Through Jesus Christ, we no longer need to travel to a temple to encounter God. Through the Holy Spirit, God's presence dwells within every believer. He is with us in this sanctuary. He is with us when we return home. He is with us at work, in our cars, in our living rooms, and in the quiet moments of life.

We do not need to make a pilgrimage to find God because God has come to us.
Therefore, let us not spend all our time waiting for heaven while neglecting the privilege of enjoying God's presence today. We can dwell with Him through prayer, worship, Scripture reading, meditation, journaling, and quiet reflection.

Some people meet God early in the morning. Others find Him while driving down the road. Some experience His presence while walking, fishing, gardening, or sitting quietly in a chair.
The method is not nearly as important as the reality.

The question is simple:

Are you spending time in the presence of God?

Conclusion
I get excited when I think about the day I will spend eternity in the presence of Almighty God. Like the psalmist, I can say, "My soul longs and even faints" for that day. My heart cries out to the living God who has prepared a place for His children.

Yet until that day arrives, I choose to live in hope-filled anticipation. I will look forward to heaven while learning to enjoy God's presence here and now. For the same God who awaits me in glory walks beside me today.

And because of that, I can confidently say with the psalmist:
"Blessed is the one who trusts in You."
 

Introduction
For the past six weeks, I have spent a lot of time thinking about life, death, family, friends, and a lot of my time thinking about God.  I have thought about his complexities, his creation, his unfailing love, his sacrifice, his incomprehensibility, his care, his mercy, his concern with the small details of life, and ultimately why God does what He does, or a better question, why does God allow bad things to happen to His people. I have thought about his promises; His promise to never leave or forsake his people, his promise of eternal life, his promise to be near to me in the hard times, his promises of justice, and his promise to take care of and provide for me.
           
I have thought about these things repeatedly, and when I think about God and the specific care and kindness He shows, I am generally encouraged.  But then, when hardships arise as they have recently, or the future becomes uncertain, I start to question, do I really believe all I say I believe?  I begin to question: Do I believe God can fix the broken, and is He really with me in the valley of darkness?  Can I say, “God is good all the time and all the time God is good”?  Or is this a response I have been programmed to repeat whenever prompted?  Ultimately, I ask myself, do I really believe what I preach?  Maybe you have asked yourself this same question?  Maybe you are asking this question right now.
           
Can I be authentic and honest for a moment?  There are times in my life when my thoughts and beliefs about God do not match up to what I preach when it comes to trusting and believing in God.  Now, I know, I am a pastor, so I should NEVER question God or have moments where my faith is tried, right?  Because we all know pastors are never supposed to question God.  We have it all together. We are pillars. Well, I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but this is not true; there are times when I struggle.  I mean, intellectually, I know God is perfect in all ways, I know He will not leave nor forsake me, and I believe He will provide for all of my basic needs in life; so, why do I question God?
 
It has been a while since I have been in a place where I could give much, let alone offer words of encouragement from the Bible. These past seven weeks have been the darkest days of my life, and honestly, some days it is hard to trust that God can use any of this for any kind of good. So, as I sat at my computer to write the message today, I reached down to the deepest moments of despair and prayed about what I could possibly give to you all, except tears, sadness, struggle, and doubt. So, I went to the one place where I could find something to give to you, and I went to the end of the book of Revelation and read about our hope-filled future. So, this morning’s message has been tough for me and I trust God will use my words to bless and encourage you all. Maybe, even bless me in the process.  So, I invite you to turn to Revelation 21 because this is where I found a glimmer of hope to share with you.
 
Revelation 21
This vision is one of the most hopeful and beautiful visions in all of Revelation, bringing to fulfillment the promise of Isaiah 65:17: “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.” This is not a restoration but a re-creation. Eden is not simply revisited—it is reimagined, transformed, and glorified. In these final chapters of Revelation, we see the culmination of God’s redemptive plan: the full, eternal fellowship between the Creator and His redeemed people.
 
John opens this chapter with a vision of a renewed cosmos. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.” The “new” here is not new in time, but new in quality, renewed, perfected, glorified. The apocalyptic tradition, echoed in passages like
 
2 Peter 3:10–13
“But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.”
 
This passage speaks of a purging by fire and a remaking of all that was broken. Creation groans under the weight of sin, but here we witness its final healing.

Alongside this new creation comes the New Jerusalem. This city, descending from heaven, is described “as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Throughout Revelation, contrasts abound: the prostitute Babylon versus the pure bride of Christ, the corrupt earthly city versus the heavenly one. Here, that contrast reaches its climax. The New Jerusalem represents the people of God in their perfected state. Many interpret this passage literally, while others interpret it symbolically; however, the core truth remains: this city is where God dwells, just as Jerusalem housed the temple. Therefore, this new Jerusalem represents the unbreakable, eternal fellowship between God and His people.

A loud voice from the throne declares the heart of this vision: “Look, God’s home is with his people.” The Greek word refers to a tabernacle, a tent of meeting. But this is no temporary structure. Unlike the tent in the wilderness or even the temple in Jerusalem, this is a permanent, immediate presence. God is not visiting; He is living with His people forever.

This fulfills the deep longing of Scripture: from the garden of Eden, through the wilderness tabernacle, into the temple, and finally, the incarnation of Christ. Now, that longing is met in full. The gap between heaven and earth is closed. God wipes away every tear. Death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more. The old order has passed. The new has come.

Then the silence of God is broken. From the throne, He speaks: “Look, I am making everything new!” What a fantastic declaration. Not just some things, not just a reordering, but everything is new. The One who spoke the world into being now speaks it into renewal.

God proclaims, “It is finished!”, echoing Jesus’ words from the cross. The plan of redemption is complete. The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, have brought His purpose to completion. This is a statement about God’s eternal nature, revealing that all history, all creation, and all redemption begin and end in Him.

To the thirsty, He offers water from the spring of life without cost. Thirst in Scripture is more than physical; it is the soul’s longing for God. Now that longing is quenched forever. Those who overcome, who have remained faithful through trial and testing, are promised an inheritance. They will be children of God, and He will be their God. All the promises made to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3, eating from the tree of life, receiving hidden manna, and ruling with Christ, are realized here.

Yet even in this vision of hope, John gives a warning. Not everyone will share in this inheritance. “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” This is the second death, the same fate as the Beast, the False Prophet, and Satan. The justice of God, which is so central to the Revelation, is not forgotten even here. The gates of the city are open, but not all choose to enter.

One of the angels who earlier carried the bowls of judgment now calls John to see something different—something infinitely beautiful: “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” This language draws us into deep intimacy and purity. The church, once battered and persecuted, now appears in glory, radiant and whole.

John is carried to a high mountain to see the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. It shines with God’s glory, clear as crystal and brilliant like jasper. Its very radiance proclaims the presence of God.

The city is walled with twelve gates, each guarded by an angel. The gates bear the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the foundations are inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles. This is a powerful symbol of the unity between the Old and New Covenants—between Israel and the Church. The people of God are not divided; they are one. The story of salvation, from Abraham to Paul, finds its climax in this city of God.

Interestingly, the wall is not for protection. In the eternal state, there is no danger. Rather, it is a symbol of completeness and wholeness. The gates speak of abundant access, and the foundations remind us that this city is built upon the faithful proclamation of God’s Word.

John sees the city measured by an angel with a golden measuring rod, in contrast to the reed given to him in chapter 11. That earlier measurement was for protection. Here, the measurement is a declaration of perfection.

The city forms a perfect cube; its length, width, and height are all equal, evoking the image of the Most Holy Place in the temple, which was also a perfect cube. The whole city is the Holy of Holies. There is no separation between God and His people.

The description continues with materials that defy earthly imagination. The wall is made of jasper. The city itself is gold, so pure it appears like transparent glass. The transparency signifies purity and holiness. Nothing is hidden. There is no darkness or deceit.

The foundations are adorned with twelve precious stones, reminiscent of the breastplate worn by the high priest in the Old Testament. Once, only the high priest had access to the presence of God. Now, in the New Jerusalem, all God’s people enjoy that privilege. The barrier between God and humanity has been permanently removed.

The twelve gates are each a single pearl, a detail both amazing and symbolic. Pearls are formed through suffering and are precious beyond compare. The entrance to the city, then, comes at a price—one paid by the Lamb.
​
In this passage, we are invited to live with heaven in view. This is where the story ends, but also where it truly begins. Our future is hope-filled. For those of us who are in Christ, we have a future and it a a beautiful future. Since it is a future hope, this means we must remain here in the present in a state of imperfection until the Lord calls us home.  But we no longer live under the shadow of sin or the fear of death, because the city of God is our true home, and the presence of God is our eternal joy and our future hope.