Reunion 团圆
Dexu Xia
Reunion
Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people. Revelation 21:3
The little boy excitedly ripped open a big box from his serviceman daddy, whom he believed wouldn’t be home to celebrate his birthday. Inside that box was yet another giftwrapped box, and inside that box was another that simply held a piece of paper saying, “Surprise!” Confused, the boy looked up—just as his dad entered the room. Tearfully the son leapt into his father’s arms, exclaiming, “Daddy, I missed you” and “I love you!”
That tearful yet joyful reunion captures the heart of Revelation 21’s description of the glorious moment when God’s children see their loving Father face to face—in the fully renewed and restored creation. There, “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes.” No longer will we experience pain or sorrow, because we’ll be with our heavenly Father. As the “loud voice” in Revelation 21 declares, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them” (vv. 3–4).
There’s a tender love and joy that followers of Jesus already enjoy with God, as 1 Peter 1:8 describes: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” Yet imagine our incredible, overflowing joy when we see the one we’ve loved and longed for welcoming us into His open arms!
What do you most look forward to about life in God’s presence in the restored creation? How do you experience glimpses of that joy now?
Loving God, we anticipate with joy the day when we will be with You. Until then, help us to happily serve You as we wait.
团圆
看哪！上帝的帐幕在人间。—启示录21章3节
小男孩正拆开他那当军人的爸爸寄来的大盒子，心想爸爸不会回家为他庆祝生日了。他打开大盒子后，发现里面有一个包着礼物纸的盒子，拆开那盒子后又有一个小盒子，小盒子里面只放了一张纸，上面写着：“惊喜！”小男孩正感到困惑，一抬起头来，就看到爸爸走进了房间。男孩泪眼汪汪地跳进爸爸的臂弯，兴奋地大叫：“爸爸，我爱你！我好想你！”
这泪水与喜乐交织的团圆，让我想到启示录21章所描述的荣耀时刻，上帝的儿女要以全然更新的形象，在新天新地与我们慈爱的天父面对面。那时，“上帝要擦去[我们]一切的眼泪”。我们不会再经历疼痛和悲哀，因为我们将与天父同在。正如在启示录21章，那“大声音”所宣告的：“看哪！上帝的帐幕在人间。祂要与人同住。”（3-4节）
其实现在基督徒已经享受上帝温柔的爱和喜乐，如彼得前书1章8节所描述的：“你们虽然没有见过祂，却是爱祂；如今虽不得看见，却因信祂就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐。”将来当我们看见那位我们所爱、所盼望的主展开双臂欢迎我们时，你能想像那无可比拟、满溢的喜乐吗？
慈爱的上帝，我们带着喜乐的心，盼望与祢同住的那日。
在那日临到之前，帮助我们在等候中喜乐地服事祢。
在新天新地与上帝同在的永恒里，你最期待的是什么？
你现在如何浅尝这样的喜乐？