What will satisfy you in 2026? What are your hopes and dreams? It’s not wrong to have ambitions, but it helps if we’re realistic! We can’t be whatever we want to be, we do have limitations and there are frustrations that we cannot avoid! Just think about those times you set out to do a simple job, why does it almost always take longer than you expect?! Why is there almost always something that goes wrong?
In Revelation 22 we get to see the ultimate fresh start, a promise of total satisfaction forever. This doesn’t mean we will be free of frustration in 2026 but it does mean we can enter the new year confident that for God’s people that our struggles won’t carry on forever.
First of all, there will be total satisfaction from God. In the first verse we are told of the river of the water of life. Rivers are refreshing, they are great to look at, there is something calming and soothing from gazing at the water. They are great to drink from, if water is pure. The River of water of life has its’ source in God himself. Remember how Jesus offered living water to all who turned to Him – “If anyone thirsts—come to me and drink” (John 7:37). In the new creation, we will find total satisfaction, we will never thirst again. We will no longer thirst for perfect health, for fair treatment, for recognition, for a sense of belonging. All God’s people will be satisfied by God Himself.
Secondly, there is complete access to the tree of life. Resurrection life will continue forever, there will be no more painful separation. It is better than Eden, there is unfettered access to the tree of life.
Thirdly, there is healing from all the past hurts. We all have wounds from life in this broken world, wounds from sickness, from disability, from relationships, from bereavements. In the new creation those wounds will be healed, “the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Ancient travellers would have arrived at their desired destination covered in dust, with their skin cracked, and their host would have helped them clean up by anointing them with oil. God provides healing from all the scars we have picked up.
Fourthly, we can look forward to the day when there will no longer be any curse! The reason work takes longer, we get sick and die is that we’re living in a world that is under a curse. From Genesis 3 onwards we’ve been hunting for the one who can break the curse. Now at the end of the Bible we see the curse lifted! How amazing, and we will be back to walking with God, we will see Him!
When you know you have holiday ahead you can get through the week—you know you’ll be at the beach next week! How about if we thought about the glory of dwelling with God in a place of satisfaction, of healing, and no more curse! That would surely help us through life. No wonder John ends the book with the words “come Lord Jesus” for that is surely our hearts cry, we long for Him to make things right. Amen.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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