When we touched down in Albuquerque a few weeks ago, it was a sort of homecoming for me. As I have mentioned before, I had lived there for 15 years and had so many positive memories of the city. I remember my first apartment, house, countless friendships, favorite restaurants, and fun hangout spots. It’s where Amanda and I were newlyweds, and where we had all our sons. It might not be the most glamorous city, but it is one I had grown to love. For a time, it was my home.
As we walked through the airport, Amanda and I noticed that they had done a major renovation in the last five years. It was welcoming and inviting, highlighting New Mexico’s unique southwestern motif. However, as soon as we left the airport, we could see that other parts of the city had begun to run down. Streets were dirty, and the side streets were littered with garbage. Many businesses had closed, and the only new establishments were cannabis shops and carwashes. Our old house’s yard was overgrown, and that sense of ownership was gone. The rose-colored glasses disappeared. The place we once lived in was no longer our home.
There, I was left with a despondent reality- the city that I cared for was no longer there. It was melancholy to be sure. Although the fond memories remained, the shine they had carried was greatly diminished. It makes me think of life itself. I have many fond memories, but when it comes to God’s full design, I will look back and recognize that this life is not as glamorous as I have made it out to be. This is what we see in Revelation: the description is meant to make us recognize that, as nice as this world can be, it will pale in comparison to what is to come.
Revelation 21:16-25 ESV – “The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day–and there will be no night there.”
Even these descriptions fail to fully describe what the spender of the new heavens and earth will be like. We can be sure that no matter what it is, it will be far greater than anything we can imagine or have experienced before. We might have fond memories and even view our world through rose-colored glasses, but one day this will all be dissolved and gone, and the things that replace it will be glorious and beyond compare. It is at that point that we will know what we were made for, and we will be home.