No More Curse!

TODAY'S READING: Rev. 19, 20, 21, 22

SCRIPTURE: Rev. 22:3
³ No longer will there be any curse.

OBSERVATION: This one simple verse sums up for me the hope and joy of the book of Revelation. There will no longer be any curse of sin, sickness, sorrow or pain; no cruelty or selfishness that hurts others. How incredibly marvelous! That promise is worth striving for and something worth the "sacrifices" I have to make here on earth to obtain. Of course, the sacrifices I have to make are simply learning to crucify my sinful nature and live according to the power God gives me to live a holy life. It's practice for the kind of living I will be doing in heaven. But there, I will no longer have the struggle I have here, because my sin nature will be taken out of me. Oh, hallelujah!!! That will be glorious! No more struggle. Peace at long last.

APPLICATION: I need these scriptures. I need to be reminded of the goal of my faith and the reward at the end of this life. God gives me plenty of rewards right now: I certainly experience joy in his presence, as well as his peace, comfort, wisdom and fellowship. But there is also strife, injustice, pain caused by others and pain caused by my own sin that I have to endure. Sometimes these negatives almost overwhelm me. But there will be a time when all that is over and done with. And I will be with others who have had their sin natures removed as well. I can't even really imagine an existence where there will be no pain in relationships but I am looking forward to it. The idea of that motivates me to work on becoming totally submissive to God now so that I am as close to helping bring heaven to earth for myself and others as possible.

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to become more like you. May I forgive with ease, turn from every temptation that is evil, and love others with abandon. I know I often fall short of that, and I ask your forgiveness. Thank you for your promise of a true utopia. I look forward to it. Come quickly, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.