Devotion for Saturday in the Second Week in Advent

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” ~ Revelation 21:1-8

After Jesus comes again—and the events prescribed for the end times take place, God will give us a new heaven and a new earth. His people will be with Him in eternal joy, but those who did not accept Jesus will be consigned to eternal punishment. Some people say God is loving and would never let any of His creation burn in the lake of fire, but that’s not what His Word tells us. Yes, He is loving. Yes, He desires that all come to salvation. Yes, He wants all of us with Him in eternity in the new heaven and the new earth. And yes, He gives us chance after chance after chance. But one day all the second chances will end. We will have made our choice for the final time. God is loving, but He is also just and righteous. He gives us every opportunity to come to salvation, but if we choose evil instead of God, we have consigned ourselves to the lake of fire.

Thank You, Lord, that You give us chance after chance after chance. However, we know that one day we will have made our eternal choice. It will be too late to turn to Jesus. I choose Him today, Lord. I want to be with You and Jesus in the new heaven and the new earth. I choose salvation and eternal joy. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/natalia88

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