Revelation 21:22-26 (NKJV)
Everything in the New Holy Jerusalem will be all new according to Revelation 21:22-26. I do not consider myself to be the kind of person who is resistant to change, but sometimes change is just hard. I have lived in many different kinds of places from living in the country to living in the city. I’ve lived in a small town and I’ve lived in a mid-size town in my life. I’ve found that every place I’ve lived has had advantages and disadvantages.
My mother, on the other hand has only lived in two places I her lifetime. She was born in Moberly, Missouri and moved to Kansas City when she was fourteen years old. Since that time she’s lived in the same city. So, for about 80 years she’s basically been in the same place. She is definitely not to open to change. I don’t think she ever was open to change. In 1950 my parents built a home in the suburbs. I was born in 1953 and when they decided to move in 1956, she agreed to move ONE block away to a new home. After my dad died in 1987 she moved to a new patio home in a nearby neighborhood but it wasn’t because she wanted to move there.
Because I’ve moved to 8 different cities in 67 years, I’ve pretty much learned that I’ll be okay anyplace I live. I can’t say one city or town stands out as being better (or worse) than other places.
But, as I ponder the Holy City I find myself drawn to the light and love that exists there.
John describes the city in the form of a comparison to what he was used to on earth. In Revelation 21:22-26 he says,
“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.”
The ALL New city did not have:
A Temple (which was a big deal in the 1st Century)
A Sun or Moon
Any darkness
Any closed Gates
Anything that defiles
When we consider that, it means everyone there will stand in the light of God and worship from everywhere.
The light of God will shine so brightly at all times that we will not need any other form of light.
God’s Glory will be known, and seen.
That glory will shine ON and through us.
We won’t have to wonder what God really thinks about something or someone.
We will not need to lock any of the gates because everyone there will be trustworthy.
We will love everyone and everyone will love us.
It will be a physically and emotionally safe place.
I can’t imagine that. I can’t imagine not having to wonder if someone is hiding or if I’m hiding. I can’t imagine not having to wonder if someone is telling me the whole truth. I can’t imagine what it will be like to know that I am loved for who I am and not in spite of it.
I can’t imagine not having emotional masks.
No hiding.
No fear.
I can’t really imagine...
For now, I can only hold hope in my heart. That’s the best I can do.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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