The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 22:1-5,
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Here is the last view in the Scriptures the Lord has left us of eternal life that awaits those who have embraced him in faith. It is seen as the restoration of the garden of Eden with all that God originally intended for mankind. In this description we are told there will be no more night, no more darkness. No need for a lamp or the sun to provide light, because the Lord God will provide light - he will be within the midst of mankind, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.", 21:3.
I also read in 21:23-25, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light... On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."
This world we live in today is quite different. The Scriptures picture us as living in a darkness that rules our lives. Indeed, when Isaiah prophesied about the coming Savior seven centuries before it happened, we are told, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. This darkness causes the people of the world to stumble around relative to spiritual things, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:9-11.
When Jesus was here he claimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12. He told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21.
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Here is the last view in the Scriptures the Lord has left us of eternal life that awaits those who have embraced him in faith. It is seen as the restoration of the garden of Eden with all that God originally intended for mankind. In this description we are told there will be no more night, no more darkness. No need for a lamp or the sun to provide light, because the Lord God will provide light - he will be within the midst of mankind, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.", 21:3.
I also read in 21:23-25, "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light... On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there."
This world we live in today is quite different. The Scriptures picture us as living in a darkness that rules our lives. Indeed, when Isaiah prophesied about the coming Savior seven centuries before it happened, we are told, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. This darkness causes the people of the world to stumble around relative to spiritual things, "Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." 1 John 2:9-11.
When Jesus was here he claimed, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12. He told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:19-21.
This world today exists in a darkness, a spiritual darkness that shrouds reality and the things of God. In the next age, those who have chosen to join God's family will never live in a darkness again as they bask in the light that God himself provides as he dwells among his people!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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