Habits of Highly Effective Christ-Followers
Begin with the End in Mind – Part VI
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-27 NLT
Key Verses: Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Please take time to read today’s Scripture Reading even though it is a little longer than most. Parts of the Book of Revelation are difficult to understand but Revelation 21 and Revelation 22 are straightforward and supply great motivation for us to endure the trials and temptations of this life.
Stephen Covey’s second habit that highly effective people practice is critical for Christ-followers to internalize into their lives. We must live our lives with the end in mind. If we do not, we will be caving to fleshly cravings and become discouraged trying to daily live for Jesus.
The good news for us who believe is that the Bible clearly tells of the end that we should live for. Our Key Verses for today remind us that there is going to be a “loud shout”, and all will change in our world. God’s home will then be among His people. The earth as we know it will then pass away and a new earth with only God’s people and God Himself present. On this new earth, no one will shed tears for God will end all sorrow, crying, or pain. There will be no death because all of God’s people will live eternally.
God inspired the Apostle Peter to write about this new earth:
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. (2 Peter 3:8 NLT)
Why did Peter think that we should not forget this? Because it helps us understand that we will never feel tired or bored and that our experience with time will change. Our minds are not capable of totally grasping this concept that eternity is one day that never ends.
The Book of Revelation also reminds us:
And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. (Revelations 21:23 NLT)
There are many other factors to motivate us to live life with the end in mind, but these give us a taste of the glories to come. Now is the time to live in a way that allows us to enjoy all these things for eternity.
Are you making daily decisions that lead to eternal life with God? Start forming the habit of beginning with the end in mind and live for your eternal rewards!
Father, grant me wisdom to live for eternity now. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen.