In her sermon entitled, "Homecoming," Pastor Milissa explored how, as followers of Jesus, we live in the "already but not yet"—Christ has already come, defeated sin and death, and given us His Spirit, but He has not yet returned to complete His work. The final chapters of Revelation give us a breathtaking picture of what's coming: a restored creation where heaven and earth fully overlap, where there is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
We invite you to spend the next five days reflecting and praying through this devotional based on that message.
We invite you to spend the next five days reflecting and praying through this devotional based on that message.
Day 1: The Story We've Fallen Into
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Revelation 21:1-7
Reflect: Just as in The Lord of the Rings, Sam asked Frodo, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into," we must ask ourselves the same question. When you chose to follow Jesus, you stepped into the greatest story ever told—one that ends not in destruction, but in restoration. The old order of things—death, mourning, crying, pain—will pass away. God himself will dwell among us, wiping every tear from our eyes. Today, take comfort knowing your story's ending is already written. You are a child of God, and your inheritance is the new heaven and new earth. Whatever darkness you face today, it is not the final chapter. Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and God is making everything new.
What "old story" of destruction have you walked away from to follow Jesus? How does knowing your story's ending give you hope today... or does it all seem just a little too good to be true? Spend some time talking honestly with the Lord.
Respond: Thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Revelation 21:1-7
Reflect: Just as in The Lord of the Rings, Sam asked Frodo, "I wonder what sort of tale we've fallen into," we must ask ourselves the same question. When you chose to follow Jesus, you stepped into the greatest story ever told—one that ends not in destruction, but in restoration. The old order of things—death, mourning, crying, pain—will pass away. God himself will dwell among us, wiping every tear from our eyes. Today, take comfort knowing your story's ending is already written. You are a child of God, and your inheritance is the new heaven and new earth. Whatever darkness you face today, it is not the final chapter. Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, and God is making everything new.
What "old story" of destruction have you walked away from to follow Jesus? How does knowing your story's ending give you hope today... or does it all seem just a little too good to be true? Spend some time talking honestly with the Lord.
Respond: Thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 2: Heaven Coming Down
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Revelation 21:22-27
Reflect: Notice that in God's plan, heaven comes down to earth—we are not simply whisked away. God's dwelling place is among his people. This means your life here and now matters. As a Spirit-filled believer, you are a "heaven and earth overlap," a pocket of God's presence in a broken world. The new Jerusalem has gates that never close because the whole earth will be safe, healed, and transformed. While we wait for Jesus to return and complete this work, we participate in bringing heaven to earth. Your prayers matter. Your acts of kindness matter. Your choice to forgive, to serve, to love—these all matter. You carry the light of God's presence into the darkness around you.
Pause and talk with the Lord. Ask him to show you where is He calling you to be a "heaven and earth overlap" today? How can you bring God's presence into your workplace, home, or community?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Revelation 21:22-27
Reflect: Notice that in God's plan, heaven comes down to earth—we are not simply whisked away. God's dwelling place is among his people. This means your life here and now matters. As a Spirit-filled believer, you are a "heaven and earth overlap," a pocket of God's presence in a broken world. The new Jerusalem has gates that never close because the whole earth will be safe, healed, and transformed. While we wait for Jesus to return and complete this work, we participate in bringing heaven to earth. Your prayers matter. Your acts of kindness matter. Your choice to forgive, to serve, to love—these all matter. You carry the light of God's presence into the darkness around you.
Pause and talk with the Lord. Ask him to show you where is He calling you to be a "heaven and earth overlap" today? How can you bring God's presence into your workplace, home, or community?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 3: The River of Life
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: Genesis 2: 10-15; Revelation 22:1-5
Reflect: The vision ends where it began—in a garden with a river of life flowing from God's throne. In baptism, you were immersed in this river, buried with Christ and raised to new life. The Holy Spirit now flows through you like that river, bringing healing, transformation, and eternal life. The tree of life, once guarded and kept from humanity after the fall, is now accessible to all. Its leaves bring healing to the nations—reconciliation across every divide of race, culture, and background. You have access to this healing power now through the Spirit. Let the river of life flow through you today, bringing healing to your own brokenness and to the broken world around you.
Pause and talk with the Lord. In what areas of your life do you need the healing power of the Holy Spirit? How can you be a channel of God's healing to others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: Genesis 2: 10-15; Revelation 22:1-5
Reflect: The vision ends where it began—in a garden with a river of life flowing from God's throne. In baptism, you were immersed in this river, buried with Christ and raised to new life. The Holy Spirit now flows through you like that river, bringing healing, transformation, and eternal life. The tree of life, once guarded and kept from humanity after the fall, is now accessible to all. Its leaves bring healing to the nations—reconciliation across every divide of race, culture, and background. You have access to this healing power now through the Spirit. Let the river of life flow through you today, bringing healing to your own brokenness and to the broken world around you.
Pause and talk with the Lord. In what areas of your life do you need the healing power of the Holy Spirit? How can you be a channel of God's healing to others?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 4: No More Night
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: John 1:1-5; Revelation 21:23-25
Reflect: In the new heaven and earth, there will be no more night—no more darkness, danger, or fear. God himself will be the light. This echoes the very beginning of creation when God said, "Let there be light." Jesus, the Light of the World, has already come to pierce our darkness. When the Holy Spirit turned on the "overhead lights" in your life, exposing what was hidden in darkness, it was not to shame you but to set you free. God's light is not harsh and condemning; it is healing and life-giving. Today, you do not need to hide in darkness or pretend everything is fine. Bring your brokenness, your struggles, your secrets into God's light. He sees you with love and offers transformation.
What areas of your life are you still hiding in darkness? Will you bring them into God's healing light today? Pause and talk with the Lord about this. And if it would be helpful, you can pray this confession prayer:
Most merciful God,
If confess that I have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved you with my whole heart;
I have not loved my neighbours as myself.
I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me and forgive me,
that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: John 1:1-5; Revelation 21:23-25
Reflect: In the new heaven and earth, there will be no more night—no more darkness, danger, or fear. God himself will be the light. This echoes the very beginning of creation when God said, "Let there be light." Jesus, the Light of the World, has already come to pierce our darkness. When the Holy Spirit turned on the "overhead lights" in your life, exposing what was hidden in darkness, it was not to shame you but to set you free. God's light is not harsh and condemning; it is healing and life-giving. Today, you do not need to hide in darkness or pretend everything is fine. Bring your brokenness, your struggles, your secrets into God's light. He sees you with love and offers transformation.
What areas of your life are you still hiding in darkness? Will you bring them into God's healing light today? Pause and talk with the Lord about this. And if it would be helpful, you can pray this confession prayer:
Most merciful God,
If confess that I have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved you with my whole heart;
I have not loved my neighbours as myself.
I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me and forgive me,
that I may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Day 5: Already But Not Yet
Rest: Take 2 minutes of silence and invite God - Father, Son, and Spirit - to draw near to you in this time.
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Reflect: We live in the "already but not yet." Jesus has already come, died, and risen. Death is already defeated. But Jesus has not yet returned to bring his work to completion. This tension is where we live—experiencing pockets of heaven while surrounded by a broken world. Like Frodo carrying the ring toward Mount Doom, the journey can feel heavy and dark. But we keep going because we know the end of the story. We hold onto the truth that there is good in this world worth fighting for. The Holy Spirit empowers you moment by moment to choose the story that leads to life rather than destruction. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Keep going. Keep choosing Jesus. Keep bringing heaven to earth. He is coming back to welcome you home.
Pause and talk with the Lord. Ask Him to give you the strength to persevere when the journey feels too heavy, and to show you how can you encourage someone else who is struggling to keep going?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
Reflect: We live in the "already but not yet." Jesus has already come, died, and risen. Death is already defeated. But Jesus has not yet returned to bring his work to completion. This tension is where we live—experiencing pockets of heaven while surrounded by a broken world. Like Frodo carrying the ring toward Mount Doom, the journey can feel heavy and dark. But we keep going because we know the end of the story. We hold onto the truth that there is good in this world worth fighting for. The Holy Spirit empowers you moment by moment to choose the story that leads to life rather than destruction. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Keep going. Keep choosing Jesus. Keep bringing heaven to earth. He is coming back to welcome you home.
Pause and talk with the Lord. Ask Him to give you the strength to persevere when the journey feels too heavy, and to show you how can you encourage someone else who is struggling to keep going?
Respond: Spend a moment thanking God for this time, invite Him to continue to speak throughout this day, and close by praying the "Our Father".
Closing Prayer for the Week: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank you for inviting us into your story—a story that ends with resurrection, restoration, and eternal life in your presence. Fill us afresh with your Spirit. Write your story on our hearts. Empower us to be carriers of heaven, bringing your kingdom to earth until you return. By faith and the witness of Your Word, we know the end of our story; help us to walk in confidence and hope. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.