Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Here, finally, in the last book of the Bible, is the desire of God fully realized. In the beginning of the Bible, it was man’s own disobedience that caused him to be banished from the Garden and separated from God’s Presence. From that very moment, God went to work on a rescue plan. He initiated the dangerous and daring means by which he could bring us back into his Presence and pull us near to his heart again. Though it would cost him his greatest possession, God’s desire to be close, to be intimate with his creation, drove him to make this great sacrifice.

“God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” This is what God wants. This is what he has always wanted. He has always wanted you free of sorrow, of tears. He has always wanted you free from pain. He has always wanted you free of  your broken-ness, your suffering. He has always wanted you free from the power of death, free from heart-rending loss. He has always wanted you to be free. He has always wanted… you.