We often speak of heaven as our final destination. We sing about the day when Jesus will “bring us home,” and there is certainly truth in the hope of being with the Lord. But the Bible ends with something even greater.

In Revelation 21, John does not see redeemed humanity escaping earth to live forever somewhere else. He sees the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. Then comes the great announcement: “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them” (Revelation 21:3).

The final hope of the Christian is not simply going to heaven. It is resurrection, a renewed creation, and heaven and earth brought together in the presence of God. The Bible begins with humanity losing Eden and ends with something greater than Eden restored. The curse is gone. God dwells with His people. The Lamb is their light. The glory of God fills everything.

Our hope is not that God will ultimately abandon this world and take us somewhere else. Our hope is His promise: “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Maybe “home” is bigger than we sometimes imagine. Home is where God dwells with His redeemed people in a creation made new.  ©

–PGR