[This is the Sixth and Final Message in a series of 'Work and work-issues' Devotionals begun on Oct.6]
Rev.22:3-5- “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” --NKJV
The book of Revelation initially targeted first-century Christians who were persecuted for their faith. Many of these Christians experienced harassment and intimidation and imprisonment; or were put to death in ghastly fashion. Nevertheless, they were summoned to stand for Jesus and to represent Him in a frequently hostile world, much of which was under the political authority of the Roman Empire.
The visions in Revelation consoled and energized them and reminded them of a Savior-King vastly superior to any human leader or vicious government. They were assured that their present hardships and miseries would not be everlasting. They were Divinely promised that all pain, and possibility of pain, would be removed. They were guaranteed a fabulous vocation and victory.
“There shall be no more curse.” This agrees with the guarantee that “there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev.21:4b)
No more pain. No more anguish or misery or frustration of any kind. No more job application forms. No more demoralizing job interviews where candidates are told they’re either too young or too old, either too inexperienced or overqualified. No more ‘wrong’ people being promoted to lofty positions while righteous persons of integrity are overlooked. No more spiteful office politics, smear campaigns and corporate power struggles. No more outsourcing or mergers where long-time employees are cut away during a transition period.
Such happenings will be absent in heaven. C.S.Lewis once remarked that the multitudes of heaven will be 'perpetually employed in praising God.' That will be the destiny of every authentic Christian.
“His servants shall serve Him.” Activity and service will occur in heaven (as Rev.22:3 makes clear), but such employment will never involve persecution or malice or gossip of any kind. No servant of Christ will be browbeaten or bullied in heaven. Labor Unions will no longer be necessary because no laborer will ever be oppressed or exploited.
Col.3:24a refers to a personal future inheritance given by the Lord. No mention is made of ‘competing’ for this reward. (Competition is not such a grand thing, if you are frequently on the losing end of it). One of the beauties of the Christian faith is that many of those who are viewed as being ‘losers’ in this world have a heavenly citizenship given to them ((Phil.3:18-21; See also Luke 16:19-26). And: Those who receive this inheritance will serve the Lord Jesus Christ together, using their glorified abilities to the praise of God’s glory.
In the heavenly estate, Christians will be divested of every gruesome particle of sin, and everything will be made new and wonderful. There will be employment in heaven, to be sure, but it will be perpetual employment of the finest variety.
"..and they shall reign forever and ever." Not merely exist. Not simply pass through a corridor of the time-space continuum. But, reign. Our heavenly employment will always be centered upon the Supreme and Sinless Ruler Who owns and loves and upholds His people. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”—2 Tim.2:12a.
Rev.22:3-5- “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” --NKJV
The book of Revelation initially targeted first-century Christians who were persecuted for their faith. Many of these Christians experienced harassment and intimidation and imprisonment; or were put to death in ghastly fashion. Nevertheless, they were summoned to stand for Jesus and to represent Him in a frequently hostile world, much of which was under the political authority of the Roman Empire.
The visions in Revelation consoled and energized them and reminded them of a Savior-King vastly superior to any human leader or vicious government. They were assured that their present hardships and miseries would not be everlasting. They were Divinely promised that all pain, and possibility of pain, would be removed. They were guaranteed a fabulous vocation and victory.
“There shall be no more curse.” This agrees with the guarantee that “there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev.21:4b)
No more pain. No more anguish or misery or frustration of any kind. No more job application forms. No more demoralizing job interviews where candidates are told they’re either too young or too old, either too inexperienced or overqualified. No more ‘wrong’ people being promoted to lofty positions while righteous persons of integrity are overlooked. No more spiteful office politics, smear campaigns and corporate power struggles. No more outsourcing or mergers where long-time employees are cut away during a transition period.
Such happenings will be absent in heaven. C.S.Lewis once remarked that the multitudes of heaven will be 'perpetually employed in praising God.' That will be the destiny of every authentic Christian.
“His servants shall serve Him.” Activity and service will occur in heaven (as Rev.22:3 makes clear), but such employment will never involve persecution or malice or gossip of any kind. No servant of Christ will be browbeaten or bullied in heaven. Labor Unions will no longer be necessary because no laborer will ever be oppressed or exploited.
Col.3:24a refers to a personal future inheritance given by the Lord. No mention is made of ‘competing’ for this reward. (Competition is not such a grand thing, if you are frequently on the losing end of it). One of the beauties of the Christian faith is that many of those who are viewed as being ‘losers’ in this world have a heavenly citizenship given to them ((Phil.3:18-21; See also Luke 16:19-26). And: Those who receive this inheritance will serve the Lord Jesus Christ together, using their glorified abilities to the praise of God’s glory.
In the heavenly estate, Christians will be divested of every gruesome particle of sin, and everything will be made new and wonderful. There will be employment in heaven, to be sure, but it will be perpetual employment of the finest variety.
"..and they shall reign forever and ever." Not merely exist. Not simply pass through a corridor of the time-space continuum. But, reign. Our heavenly employment will always be centered upon the Supreme and Sinless Ruler Who owns and loves and upholds His people. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”—2 Tim.2:12a.
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