7/10/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“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 21. 27)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

At first glance at this verse, we might forget ourselves and think “I won’t make it into God’s glorious everlasting life.” Our eye catches the disqualifiers: impure, shameful and deceitful. Who among us does not have those strikes against us? The scripture echoes in our mind, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3.23) But, that is not a stand alone verse. It continues with “And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3.24) So, wait! Does that mean that everyone makes it to Heaven? That doesn’t seem fair nor just. Of course, it doesn’t. The testimony of Revelation to this very point plainly tells us that not everyone’s name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Don’t forget who the Lamb is. The Lamb is Jesus the Christ. We are led further in Paul’s reflection in the Book of Romans (3.25a) “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” The Book of Life which belongs to Jesus the Christ, the resurrected and glorified Lamb of God, is penned “in His blood.” Now, we can look at the aforementioned disqualifiers and see that people themselves have determined their fate. God has made it clear that “faith, hope and love” are the qualifiers for eternal life. The determining factor is “faith in Christ, hope for Christ and the love of Christ.” Those who are “impure in their thoughts about Jesus as the Christ, shameful in their actions as being one with Christ and deceitful in their intentions to promote themselves as Christ followers” never had and never will have their names included in His Book of Life. He alone is given the responsibility of reading “our heart, soul, mind and spirit.” He is the critical and determining factor.

Let us look then at the two things we are told in chapter 21 that are missing in the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem. First, in verse 21.22 we hear “I did not see a temple in the city [because there is no need] for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb ARE the temple.” Imagine living in a time and place where there was no temple, sanctuary, home church or campground meeting place because there was no need for it. In this world, we are called to dwell in tabernacles, tents, houses and buildings because we no longer are citizens of the Garden of Eden. There was no need for manufactured protection because God is all we would ever need. The impetus of “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” propels us to the rest of the story “and all else that is needed will be provided.” On this side of Eden and this side of Heaven, we are called to dwell in those places which serve as a reminder of “seeking God and His righteousness.” Dwelling in those places provides us with “all that is needed for living in this world.” Well, at least that is the way it was intended to be. But, life in that world and in this world as it was in Eden and in Heaven was and is a matter of choice. We have the affirmation of Joshua to embolden that claim when he said to all of Israel, “As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord!” Sadly, most of our “dwelling” places do not reflect, resemble or give testimony to “on earth as it is in Heaven.” Incredibly, most of our “dwelling” places reflect, resemble and give testimony to “on earth as it is in Hell.” My, how we have forgotten ourselves. Fortunately, in our striving toward the kingdom (we will never do it perfectly, of course) there should be more heaven than hell, more hope than despair, more love than apathy and more faith in God than in ourselves. But, in the New Heaven/Earth/ Jerusalem where all things are made new, the need for such a “place of reminder” is not needed. There will be no “placeholder” for the presence of God. God will be with us in Heaven as He was on earth. The difference will be that we will be with Him in Heaven as we only hope to on earth.

Then in verse 21.27, we hear “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.” Perhaps we could use another biblical term and concept, especially from the prophetic utterances in the Old Testament, to describe what is left out. Better yet, it is not left out but not permitted: adulteration. Simply understood, adulteration is the impurifying of anything so that it does not represent its original purpose and design. We know that it is sin which has created such adulteration in all things but in particular “people, place, and objects.” In the moments of creation, by whatever time designation you choose because it really doesn’t matter, we see the perfect imagining of God at work. We hear it in His words of affirmation “it is good” as well as the crowning affirmation “it is good and very good” when humanity is added to the mix like a cherry on top. But, the nuance of possibilities for optional sources of entitlement and inclusion exist within the myriad facets of God. Only by the Holy Spirit are those options visualized and then put under control. When the Holy Spirit is denied then so is the possibility of eternal life. God has made a choice for purity. Humanity seems to desire impurity. Because of that relationships are adulterated, our work gets adulterated, our hopes and dreams become adulterated, our religion and faith expressions become adulterated and our future becomes adulterated. Our only hope is in the One who “makes all things new.” “In Him shall we trust leaning not on our own understanding” quotes the verse of wisdom from Proverbs 3. But, all this adulteration is missing and excluded in Heaven. Our faith in God alone as in Jesus the Christ is the rewarded choice and blessing. In Heaven, as never before, all things are made new and the rebellion of Lucifer, aka Satan, is finally once and for all “put down.”

It is by that faith, we are qualified to dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Pursue that faith and live in it by mercy and grace all your days. Let the glory of the Lord be seen in you now and always. Fit yourself as the Bride who is to be claimed by her Bridegroom; the Church to her intended Lamb of God.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

You are our God and we shall be Your people in spirit and in truth. Continue to dwell among us. Let the revelation by Your Holy Spirit inspire us to greater service in a more refined identity. We do not live as ourselves for ourselves. Rather, we live in Christ as He lives in us. We declare it with all the elders and angels in Heaven, saying “Holy, holy, holy is He who was and is and is to come.” In Jesus’ name we live, serve and pray. AMEN.