The Happiest of Endings

“and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm 23:6

I don’t know about you, but I like stories to have a happy ending. But so often real life “stories” seem to end in tragedy or defeat. We look at people who end their lives in the throes of a painful disease like cancer, or whose minds are slowly eaten away by Alzheimer’s or dimensia, and their final days look like anything but a happy ending.

 But that’s just the earthly side of things. To every life there is an “Afterword.” The page is turned and eternity begins, the scene either shifting to the glories of heaven, or the horrors of hell.

For those who have confessed their sin to God, accepting His free gift of forgiveness, our final chapter on earth is just the beginning. When darkness falls on our deathbed scene, the turning of the page will find us in a very real and literal place, flooded with the light of God’s glory and filled with the nearness of His presence.

Think of it, we will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Nothing will ever, nothing could ever take us out of His presence, and we will have all eternity to enjoy our fellowship with Him, unhindered by sin or darkness or even the need for sleep!

One of the most encouraging passages I know of is Revelation 21-22. In it, God gives us a glimpse into the glories awaiting us in eternity to come. He describes the “new Jerusalem,” in which we will live, and as glorious as the city itself will be, what encourages me the most is the descriptions of our relationship with God:

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (21:3-4)

Imagine, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain. Our source of comfort and joy will be God Himself! Not only will we be in God’s presence physically, we will have unhindered fellowship spiritually as well, since only the saved in Christ may enter, and the curse of sin will be no more. (Revelation 21:27; 22:3)

Like sheep, led into the comfort and peace of the fold, lying down in the trusting certainty of their shepherd’s care, so our Shepherd will lead us safely home at the end of our days on earth, there to “dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

 I am so grateful that our Lord leads us to the grazing grounds of this life, is with us through the valley of the shadow of death, feeds us in the very presence of our enemies, and has made a way for each and every one of His sheep to be led safely into His sheepfold, where we will enjoy the perfection of His presence for all of eternity.

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11