God’s Gracious Gift of Eternal Security | June 19th, 2018

Heaven…it was all I could think about after my mother passed away in March of 2012. Being as close as a mother and daughter could possibly be, separation from her here on earth was incredibly painful for me. 

I had no doubt her spirit went to heaven immediately after she took her last breath. She loved Jesus with everything in her and had given Him her heart many years before. I knew at that moment of death she was right there, fully alive, in His presence. 

Desiring to learn all I could about where she would be residing for eternity and where I would one day be reunited with her, I began to do some reading in Revelation. It is the last book of the Bible describing what heaven is going to be like.

Revelation was written by the Apostle John who was given a vision of the end times as well as what heaven would look like after Jesus returns. His writings are just a glimpse of the unimaginable magnificence of our eternal Home… 

A New Heaven and a New Earth

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. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. ‘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.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1-5

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Revelation 21:23

The Wall of the City

I continued to read on about the incredible details of this brilliant city…

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, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. Revelation 21:19-21

These last few verses about the foundations of the wall of the city really caught my attention. I have a passion for making jewelry out of gemstones, so I was excited to read about the stunning beauty of this amazing wall made of precious gemstones! 

After reading, I felt inspired and got to work designing jewelry based on the wall of the city as a symbol of the beauty of heaven. This greatly comforted me during my grief. I knew my goodbye had not been final and I would see my mother again one day, surrounded by beauty.

My Kingdom Collection

I began researching each of the gemstones listed in the verses describing the foundations of the wall of the city and found that most of them could be purchased as beads. Some were quite expensive (like the sapphires and emeralds), but I was able to find gemstone beads that looked very similar. 

Before long, I had created a collection of beaded bracelets representing the twelve foundations which became known as my Kingdom Collection. I gave the name “City Splendor” to this part of the collection.

Our Longing for Security

This wall of the city has so much meaning. It is not only a symbol of the beauty and magnificence that will most certainly be surrounding us, but it also represents something that each one of us deeply longs for…security.

The statistics prove it. Security products are a booming business right now. The global security market is predicted to surpass $100 billion by 2020 with home security systems accounting for an estimated $47 billion of the total security market!

Security provides protection as well as freedom from fear. That freedom comes when you know you are completely safe from anything that could ever threaten or harm you physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

I longed for that after losing my mother. Everything on this earth, including your loved ones being here with you, is temporary. You cannot place your security in a single earthly thing. It can all be lost. 

Security is found only in the eternal. Whenever you are in need of true security, you can turn to Jesus Christ who is your solid rock, fortress, Savior, protector, shield, and place of safety.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2

In 2011, my husband and I took a vacation to Puerto Rico. We visited a National Historic Site in San Juan called Castillo San Felipe del Morro which was built years ago during the 16th century. It had been a defensive military fortification and a major part of San Juan’s harbor defense system. And it was powerful. Because of it, no enemy ship could navigate its waters without great fear of being captured. 

I look at that photo and think about how protected I am having God as my fortress who gives me an eternal security beyond the most secure fortress ever built in this world. Nothing can touch my soul. It is completely secure because it belongs to Him.

Your Personal Invitation 

Heaven, our eternal Home created by our great protector, is completely safe and secure. It is a place where we are separated from all sin and evil, fully protected in every way. All that we are given there can never be lost, stolen, or taken away. No need for any home security systems there!

Its citizens are those who have accepted the invitation to live there eternally by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. This is required because sin separates us from God. Since we are all sinners, Jesus (the sacrificial Lamb) had to die on the cross to pay the penalty (death) for our sin so we could be purified, worthy to enter such a beautiful, secure, and perfect place when we die. It is undeserved grace. All that we need to do is to say “yes” to His invitation! 

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

It is also a place where, just as on earth, we will never be separated from God’s love because His love is eternal. We can rest secure in that promise! 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have eternal security knowing your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Your new address is permanent, everlasting, and completely secure.

Preparing a Place for You

Our eternal destination that John describes throughout Revelation is still being prepared for us today. The spirit of anyone who dies before Jesus returns goes immediately to heaven to be with Him – a temporary heaven until the new heaven and new earth are ready for us.

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:2-3

Jesus will come again one day just as He promised. He is preparing an amazing place for you filled with magnificent beauty, security, and inseparable love. Best of all, He is inviting you to live there with Him for all eternity!

If you have answered “yes” to His gracious invitation, you will find something even more beautiful there than the twelve foundations made of precious gemstones…the Lamb’s book of life with YOUR name permanently inscribed inside. 

Spiritual Sparklers

Sparkler #1: Prayer

Turn to Christ in prayer when you need true security, telling Him your fears so you can live in freedom, knowing He is always there for you as your solid rock, fortress, Savior, protector, shield, and place of safety.

Sparkler #2: Action

If you have not done so already, accept Jesus as your Savior and your invitation to live in the eternal, glorious Home that He is preparing for you right now.

Sparkler #3: Challenge

Tell others about the invitation God has for them to live with Him in a perfect Home filled with beauty, security, and love for all eternity.

*Sky near sunset – photo credit: Alvesgaspar

Kimberly Moore is a blogger, speaker, and author of Beauty in a Life Repurposed and Kingdom Sparkle. To learn more, visit her website at kingdomsparkle.com.

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