Revelation 21:22--Rev. 22:5; Psalm 64

Rev. 21:22 - Rev. 22:5

We are still reading about the vision God gave John of heaven. The purpose is to encourage us. We know it will be perfect and incredibly beautiful. Actually its description is beyond human words, and John is sometimes reduced to telling us what is NOT there because he has no human words to describe what he sees. For example, he did not see a temple because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. It does not need the sun or moon because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  The gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." v. 27

As we move into chapter 22, we take a closer look at the heavenly city. It is somewhat like a perfect garden reminiscent of the Garden of Eden which was cursed because of sin. In heaven, "No longer will there be any curse." v. 3.  In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were forbidden from eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and from the tree of life. In the eternal home, we will have access to the tree of life, and we will live forever.

One of the things we will be doing in heaven besides praising God is serving Him. v. 3 We are not told exactly what this service will be but we know it will be perfect because God is perfect, heaven is perfect, and sin will have been banished! Although we are and will continue to be servants, we will also be kings! "And they will reign for ever and ever." v. 5 We will reign with Christ over the New Heaven and the New Earth.

We might wonder that God left many things about heaven as a mystery to us. We know that He has told us what we need to know, and we surely must not forget that we are to be praising and serving Him now while we remain on this earth!

Psalm 64
David brings his fears and his troubles to the Lord just as we should do every day! Don't be afraid or reluctant to talk to God about your circumstances. Sometimes we are troubled by someone's words, just as David was. vv. 3-4

"But God" in v. 7 is the turning point! No matter what the enemy has in store for us, he is no match for God! "He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin;..." v. 8

For our meditation today, "Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!" v. 10