The Glorious Light of the New Jerusalem

"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 very glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."
(Revelation 21:22,23)

The new Jerusalem. Can we even begin to imagine this phenomenal place? Let's try.

Verse 22 tells us that there is no temple there for us to gather in worship. A building is not necessary because the Lord God Himself and His Son, Jesus are its temple. I take this to mean that we will be dwelling WITHIN their Spirit, fully engulfed, completely embraced.

Remember the verse in Acts 17:28? "For IN HIM we live and move and have our being..." IN HIM! On this earth, we know that at the moment of salvation, we are sealed WITHIN the Holy Spirit. Our spirit is safe, secure - but our bodies are still at the mercy of this fallen world.

But in the New Jerusalem, WE will be spirit and we will be perfectly united with our Lord. What a glorious thought!

And the Light...think for a minute about the Light. The city will be illuminated by the very glory of God. The Lamb - the Light of the world - will be its Light. Have you ever heard the testimony of someone who survived a "life-after-death" experience? The first thing these folks describe is the Light, yet with some frustration, for there are no words to adequately describe its brilliance.

Now, you're going to love this:

Isaiah 60:19,20 reads, "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended."

This passage in Isaiah was written almost 800 years before Revelation, and yet it presents the reader with the same vision of glorious light. God's Word never changes. Each day moves us closer to the fulfillment of His great plan - towards the New Jerusalem...towards that city on the hill engulfed in brilliant, divine Light.

Warm, welcoming Light.
Embracing, penetrating Light.

The Light of Love.

Lord God, Can we begin to imagine what You have prepared for us? I think not! It is too grand for us to grasp hold of. I look forward to a place engulfed in the Light of Your Love where there is no more sorrow, no more pain. Walking and talking with You - dwelling with You - is far more wonderful than we could ever understand! Hold us close, Father, as we approach that glorious day. Let us not lose sight of your beautiful face.