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We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes

We hate goodbyes. We hated saying goodbye to grandparents, cousins, siblings, parents, friends and churches in America. And now that we're back in Tanzania, we're saying goodbye to our dear friends who are returning to America for their furlough. We hate goodbyes.

But it has forced us to fix our eyes on our future hope of resurrection and reunion on the new earth. Many times we find ourselves clinging to the hope that, "when we finally get home on the new earth there will be no more goodbyes." And of course, we remind ourselves that the most glorious joy of the new earth will not be seeing all our beloved friends and family members (even though that will be fantastic). Rather, the most massive, magnificent joy of the new earth will be seeing Jesus and being with Jesus and enjoying Jesus forever. That's our hope!

So as we've been rehesarsing the glorious truths about the new earth from Isaiah and Hebrews and Revelation, I tried to combine many of them together in one place. Here goes…


We Fix Our Eyes on the Land of No Goodbyes

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
where there can be no night
because Yahweh is our everlasting light;
where bitter weeping is forsaken
as we zealously proclaim, "Behold your God."

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
where violence is silenced
and destruction is demolished;
where righteousness thrives
and death dies.

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
where troubles are forgotten
and joys are everlasting;
where mourning is banished
and gladness reigns forever.

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
because we desire a better country, a heavenly one
and we desperately seek a homeland
so we fervently wait for the enduring city
whose designer and builder is God.

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
where the curse is reversed
and desolation is transformed into delight;
where pain and rebellion become peace and rest
while old things pass away and all things are made new.

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
where we will see our Savior Jesus face to face
and God himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes;
where God will dwell with us
and we will live with Jesus forever.

We fix our eyes on the land of no goodbyes
joyfully awaiting the new heavens and new earth.

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Here are the Scripture passages that I drew from. Spend some time meditating on them and preach to yourself the hope that we have in Jesus!

Revelation 21:25; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:19; Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 60:18; Isaiah 60:18; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 65:16; Isaiah 61:7; Isaiah 60:20; Isaiah 65:18; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 11:14; Hebrews 13:14; Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 22:3; Isaiah 62:4; Revelation 21:4; Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 21:4-5; I John 3:2; Revelation 22:4; Revelation 21:4; Revelation 21:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1