Do you enjoy learning about the past? I love history documentaries. But since getting married I’ve had to learn that history isn’t everyone’s cup of tea! But while we all don’t share a fascination with the past, we all wonder about the future. Will we ever get flying cars? Where will we be working in 10 years time? What will our families be like in 20 years? What will happen to you in the end?
The Bible says the key to understanding the past, present and future is Jesus.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
The Bible – Revelation chapter 1, verse 8
In the book of Revelation (in the Bible), a Christian, called John, shows us that this era of time will end with the return of Jesus, not as a humble carpenter, but this time in all His glory as the sovereign King of the universe.
If God is just, if He is loving, He has to punish evil and that’s just what He is going to do. Jesus is coming back to bring ultimate justice for everything ever done, said or thought. In the end, no evil will escape justice.
That includes you and me. If we haven’t found forgiveness and acceptance before God for our wrong doing, we face the fierce and pure justice of King Jesus, from which there can be no escape for all eternity.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
The Bible – Revelation chapter 20, verse 11 and 12
When we evaluate our lives against God’s rules, instead of our own opinions, it is clear that we have all failed, broken His law and deserve to be punished. We need a saviour. That’s why Jesus came the first time – to deal with our wrong doing by taking the punishment for it Himself upon the cross. So there is a way for our sin to be dealt with if we place all our trust in Jesus and what He has done for us.
Jesus is also coming again to restore the universe. He will cleanse and recreate so perfectly that the very best things of this life are really a small foretaste of that new creation.
In the new heavens and earth there will be no more death, suffering and sorrow. God will live with people from every tribe, tongue and nation who were adopted into His family through the finished work of Jesus. They will live with Him forever in this perfect world of infinite bliss that never gets old.
Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.
The Bible – Revelation chapter 21, verse 3 and 4
So the Bible ends with a promise and a warning. We either face eternal justice or paradise and the difference, in the end, is Jesus.
What is your hope for the future? How will you respond to Jesus?