Tonight's Word 🌱

 

"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘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." 

-Revelation 21: 2-3

I can't wait to walk down the aisle ... and hear the words: "This is your captain speaking...✈️" 😉

I don't know about you, but I enjoy getting on a plane, travelling, being a tourist and exploring this big wide beautiful world we live on, observing and learning about various cultures and seeing different people. So when I discovered that today was World Tourism Day, my curiosity was peaked. I learned that the United Nations sets aside this day (September 27) every year to promote awareness of the benefits of tourism to personal development, local, regional and international collaboration and the world economy. I also learned that a tourist is defined as "a person who moves to countries or places outside of their usual environment for personal, business or professional purposes." (ref 1)

Have you ever been a tourist? Many either have a dream destination or a list of places they have visited or would like to visit. I personally would like to visit a wide range of countries like Japan, Brazil, Turkey, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Barbados, Jamaica, etc. Some enjoy visiting the big cities like Paris, New York, London, Beijing or Panama City among many others. Some like shopping. Some enjoy visiting natural wonders, and others may simply enjoy the organic experience having no plan but just allowing movements and experiences to spontaneously occur once landed in the foreign environment. Whatever ones preference, there is something for everyone when travelling.

There is one city however that I would like to bring up for consideration, and even invite everyone to add to their 'bucket list'. It is on mine too. From what I have read and heard, it is a very beautiful, clean, and safe city. It is that city that is mentioned in Hebrews 11:10 which says "For Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. " 

It is that place that Jesus refers to in John 14:3 which says: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.". 

It is that same place that John saw in vision and attempts to describe as accurately as possible in Revelation 21 and 22. I think the whole description is worth reading and I have included it below for easy access.

Artist's depiction of the city described by John

Revelation 21
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “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. 

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 

7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 

11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 

12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 

13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 

14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 

17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 

19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 

20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 

23 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. 

24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 

25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 

26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 

27 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.

Revelation 22

1 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 

2 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. 

3 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. 

4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 

5 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.

Shall we go?

Friends, this week as I read John's best attempt at describing what he saw in the vision God revealed to him, I couldn't help but wonder, which place on earth truly could ever be this beautiful? I would love to see it with my own eyes, eat the fruits, walk the streets, meet the people, admire the architecture, but most importantly, see, meet and spend eternity with the One who created all this with us in mind. Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” I like the idea that God saved the best for last. This thorough description of the city appears at the end of His Word, and perhaps, even as a reminder that this is the end He desires for every single one of us. Friends, can we all visit this city together when that time comes? 

I'm dreaming of that city already. Let’s all plan to not only be tourists but residents too, in that heavenly city one day. I can’t wait to be walking down the aisle with you on that great departure day, and hear: "The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes, take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for this gift You are preparing for all who love You. Even when we fall by the wayside, or become discouraged, we are always on Your mind. You have set eternity in our heart, and we want to re-commit to staying true and committed to You and your timeless paths of righteousness that lead to you. Restore us to your joy, heal us and revive our faith and trust in You and your mission. As beautiful as it may still be, this world is not our final destination. Help us to keep focused and filled on the blessed hope. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Be blessed by this beautiful and timeless song that was recently rendered by the TTAPS Seraphs. God bless you 🎧🙏🏼🙂

Dreaming of a City [TTAPS Seraphs]

---

Reference

1 Definition supplied by United Nations World Tourism Organization