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We’re in the third week of a series I’m calling Death and the Life after That. Two weeks ago we talked about death, and last week I gave an overview of the Life After That. The quick recap of the shockers from last week are that God’s purposes are more than just the salvation of individual souls, but the salvation and recreation of the whole world, the whole cosmos. The second is that in the end, we will not be disembodied spirits in heaven with God but dwelling in resurrected, immortal bodies on a renewed earth, and that most importantly, God will come down to us, that the dwelling of God will be with man. As I mentioned last week, that changes everything – our mission is more than just saving souls, we will finally be who we were created to be, and that which we do in the power of God will go on into eternity. If you want to hear more, please listen to last week’s sermon online.
That’s the big picture. Over the next few weeks I want to get into some of the specifics. And really, there’s only one specific that deserves to be the first one. Open up to Revelation 22 – we’re going to read the first five verses. Revelation 22:1-5 - Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
There are five words in there that I really want to focus on: They will see his face. The greatest promise in all of Scripture concerning the life after death can be summed up in those five words: they will see his face. And I want to tell you this morning that once I’ve explained to you why those five words are so profound, so beautiful, that your reaction to that promise will say a lot about your relationship with God. This is so important, so please bear with me.
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