Several years ago a friend and I attended the Chicagoland Flower and Garden Show, held that year in the Donal E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. As we walked through the doors I stopped and stared in amazement. Mature evergreen trees rose toward the ceiling, shading brick patios and beautiful gazebos. Curving stone walkways were lavishly lined with colorful flowers and the earthy aroma of wood chips and soil mingled with the fragrance of hyacinths, daffodils and tulips. The sound of splashing water from fountains and streams spilled over the entire scene. There were even fish swimming in the ponds!
As my friend and I strolled along the paths we saw creative displays of outdoor dining arrangements and fabulous creations of living yard art designed to tantalize every sensory avenue. There were even demonstrations being conducted, with experts standing by to answer any questions one might have.
What an incredible amount of planning, time and energy had been poured into this 10-day extravaganza! Exhibitors had invested big bucks in something that, while very beautiful, was only a small foretaste of the pleasures promised for the New Earth.
Revelation 21:1-5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the former things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”
Revelation 22:1-2; 14 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
