【双语灵修】新天新地：天国HEAVEN, THE NEW CREATION

启示录 21:1-5

我又看见一个新天新地，因为先前的天地已经过去了，海也不再有了。 我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由神那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇装饰整齐等候丈夫。

我听见有大声音从宝座出来说：“看哪，神的帐幕在人间！他要与人同住，他们要做他的子民，神要亲自与他们同在，做他们的神。 神要擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。” 坐宝座的说：“看哪，我将一切都更新了！”又说：“你要写上，因这些话是可信的，是真实的。”

10月18日

新天新地：天国

“但向你们敬畏我名的人必有公义的日头出现，其光线（原文是翅膀）有医治之能。你们必出来跳跃如圈里的肥犊。” (玛拉基书4:2)

我小时候在牧场里，看着小牛犊们初次被放归牧场，总是充满乐趣。有那么几秒钟，突如其来的自由，似乎令它们不知所措。沐浴着明媚阳光，面对着陌生的景象和气息，它们呆立不动。接着，突然就会腾空跃起，绕着牧场狂奔！很快精疲力竭，它们会停下来休息—然后一遍又一遍地重复这个欢乐的过程。

在耶稣降临前约四百年，玛拉基先知曾预言神的子民将欢喜快乐，甚至“跳跃如圈里的肥犊”。如今，神的国在执政君王耶稣的看顾下日渐增长，待祂再来之时，这国必将永远坚立，臻于完美。那里“不再有死亡、悲哀、哭泣或疼痛”，我们将获得丰盛的生命，或许真会像小牛犊般欢跃！随着乐园的重现，我们将以复活之躯与耶稣一同作王，直到永永远远。

但眼下我们的生活常充满艰辛。正如众人所说，心志薄弱的人绝对难以者承受衰老！然而，终有一日，我们将摆脱今生的劳苦，得享与主永远同在的自由。藉着基督，死亡已化作通向永恒生命的门径，引领我们进入神所应许的新天新地。无论耶稣再来时我们是已安息或仍存活，新天新地都在等候着我们！

祷告

父啊，我们渴望那日得脱今生劳苦，与你同享永生，在新天新地中永世欢欣。求你坚固我们的信心，使我们此刻在基督里就能预尝永恒的喜乐。阿们。

Revelation 21:1-5

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

HEAVEN, THE NEW CREATION

“For you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” —Malachi 4:2

On the dairy farm where I grew up, it was always fun to watch young calves when they were first released into the pasture. For a few seconds the freedom seemed to paralyze them. Taking in the bright sun and the unfamiliar sights and smells, they stood motionless. Then suddenly they would leap into the air and race around! Soon exhausted, they would stop to rest—and then do it all over again and again.

About four centuries before Jesus came, Malachi prophesied about God’s people living joyfully, even frolicking “like well-fed calves.” Today the kingdom grows under the watchful eye of the reigning King Jesus, and when he returns, it will be established permanently and perfectly. With “no more death or mourning or crying or pain,” we will have life to the full, and we may even frolic like young calves! With paradise regained, we will reign with Jesus in resurrected bodies for eternity.

But life is often hard for us now. And growing old, as people say, is not for the faint of heart! But one day we will be released from the struggles of this life and freed to live with the Lord forever. In Christ, death has become like a doorway to eternal life with God and the promise of the new creation. Whether we are dead or alive when Jesus returns, the new creation awaits us!

Father, we long for the day when we are released from our present struggles to enjoy life with you and in the new creation forever. Strengthen our faith as we begin to experience eternal joy even now, in Jesus. Amen.

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