And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. Revelation 21:23.
There is the New Jerusalem, the metropolis of the glorified new earth, “a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” Isaiah 62:3. “Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:11.
The streets of the city are paved with pure gold, and … the gates of the city are of gold set with pearls. The riches obtained here may be consumed…. There no thief shall approach; no moth or rust shall corrupt…. You will have an imperishable treasure which you can be in no danger of losing.
In the city of God “there shall be no night.” None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning, and shall ever be far from its close. “And they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light.” Revelation 22:5. The light of the sun will be superseded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling, yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide. The glory of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light. The redeemed walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day.
“I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Revelation 21:22. The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son. “Now we see through a glass, darkly.” 1 Corinthians 13:12. We behold the image of God reflected, as in a mirror, in the works of nature and in His dealings with men; but then we shall see Him face to face, without a dimming veil between. We shall stand in His presence, and behold the glory of His countenance.
Let us determine that if it costs everything we will have heaven and become partakers of the divine nature.
The Faith I Live By p. 363
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Carolyn’s family as she passed away yesterday. Rose
—-Please pray for us as we travel to our sister-in-law’s funeral service. Please pray for traveling mercies and harmony and good-will on the trip and the service. Jean
—-Please pray for Ron’s shoulder that the physical therapist will give him the right treatment. Rose
—-My Great- Nephew Russell drowned in a fishing incident. Leaving a wife Shandra and three little ones. Calvin, Emily, and Jacob. As far as I know he, and his family are not saved. Plese pray for the family. Roberta
—-Please pray for my daughter to find her precious cat, Shiloh. He went missing yesterday in Palm Desert, notorious for coyotes. She just found his collar in the street. Linda
—-Please keep my cousin Joyce in your prayers please. She is seriously sick, so major prayers are appreciated. Ernie
—-Please pray for my step-dad. He is in the hospital with something wrong in his heart. He wants to leave, but he lives in a rural area alone and if something happens at home he may not get help in time. Pray with me for insight for the doctors and for my step-dad to have peace and rest while they try to find and fix the problem. Jennie
—-Please pray for my husband as he tries to eat healthy that God will help him to feel better quickly so he won’t be discouraged and go back to his old habits. M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When I was a pre-teen through my early teen years, going to horror films was very popular. At school, I would hear all about these scary movies and shuddered. Even so, I wanted to be like my classmates so much, that I began going to these frightening films. I thought that if I could join in their conversation, that I would fit into the group.
It didn’t work. I never did join into my classmates’ conversation about the shows. All I wanted to do was forget them. Worse still, for several weeks after going to these bloodcurdling pictures, I would have nightmares. Still, I wanted to fit in so badly, that I went to them every time a new one came to town.
So it was with the children of Israel. When God led them out of Egypt, He had wonderful plans for them. He intended for them to be different. He wanted them to be an example to other nations. He greatly desired them to show His great love to all the world. If they had fulfilled His plans for them, what a different world we would have today.
Sadly, they did not share the knowledge of the True God with the nations around them. Instead, they copied their neighbors and worshipped their false gods. They even asked for a king so that they could be like those nations around them. They rejected God, because they did not want to be different. He had poured out His blessings upon them, but they turned from Him so they would “fit in.”
Through the prophets, God tried to reason with them, but they would not hear. He brought them though trials and troubles that they might turn back to Himself, but they did so only temporarily. Soon, they were right back trying to be like those around them. Through Isaiah, our Loving Creator spoke of Israel’s rejection of Himself. “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” Isa 5:1-8
With tears in His voice our Great Redeemer pled, “What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” Jer 2:5 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
We have this same danger today. Our Good Shepherd has led us out of the world. He greatly desires that there be a difference between ourselves and those who do not follow Him. Our Dear Saviour longs for us to be His special people. We are to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew forth the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvellous light.” 1 Peter 2:9
Paul commands, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
Our Great Creator longs for us to follow His plan. Are we letting Him lead in our life or do we want to be just like the world? Do our lives reflect the love, the kindness, the goodness of God or are we just like those who follow Him not? Since we have accepted Christ’s great sacrifice, His love, His changing power, has there been indeed a change in our heart, in our life? Our Maker has promised to remake us, to mold us into His image. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
May we never keep our walk with the Lord hidden for fear that someone will notice that we are different. No! Jesus commands, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Mat 5:16 May we allow Him to take control of our lives no matter where that path leads. May we “stand fast in the faith” no matter what others do or say. 1 Cor 16:13 May we daily follow our Dear Saviour “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
Rose