Good morning, and a most blessed Thursday to you. I want to read to you from Revelation, the 21st chapter. This is where John sees the new heaven and the new earth. He writes in verse 22, "I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb. And the city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there."

I wanted to share this with you because, as we enjoy this glorious week of weather, basking in the sunlight and feeling its warmth, it offers a slight glimpse of the light and warmth we will experience for all eternity in the new heaven and new earth. It also makes me think of the opposite.

We are told in Scripture that those who are outside of the Lord will be cast into utter darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is the bitter cold, the absolute absence of God. Yet, as believers, we are promised to walk eternally in the glory of His light. The extreme contrast between these two realities should cause us to pause and reflect on what we are truly doing on this side of heaven as believers, and what we are proclaiming and confessing as followers of God who know that Jesus is indeed our Savior. We know that it doesn't end here.

We are assured that eternally, we will live in the warmth and light of our Lord. But on this side of heaven, knowing that there are those who will experience the utter darkness—separated eternally from God, living forever in the torment of being cut off from Him, experiencing the agony of Hell itself—should inspire us to share the good news of Jesus Christ. As we soon enter the Lenten season and reflect on our own sin and need for a Savior, I pray that we will also be mindful of those God is bringing into our lives, people with whom we can share the good news. The good news is for everyone, and we are called to share it.

We are called to share the love of Christ, and there is no time like the present to share His light and His love. So, as you continue on this side of heaven, walking in the sun and feeling the glorious warmth it brings, I pray that you will see whom the Son, Jesus Christ, is calling you to share Him with. And may they be drawn by His loving word to walk with Him in His eternal light.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You so much for the beauty of Your creation. We thank You for the warmth of the sun, for the light it brings, and for the glimpse it gives us of the eternal.

Lord, we thank You that, through Your blood, we are assured of an eternal future with You—one where we will always live in Your light, always bask in the warmth of Your glory, and always praise You for being the God that You are. Lord, we ask that You keep our hearts and minds open to those You are calling us to share the good news with, and that You would soften their hearts even now so they are ready to receive Your word. May they turn to You, knowing that Your love for them is eternal as well. Lord, we praise You and thank You, lifting this prayer to You in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have an amazing rest of your week, enjoy the warmth, and I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. God bless.