Where We Belong - Revelation – A Study of Last Things

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Read Revelation 22:1-5 (ESV)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Reflect

What details of this description make you long for Heaven? Why?

In his iconic song “Only the Good Die Young,” Billy Joel made a case that heaven won’t nearly be as exciting as living the party life here on earth. He sang, “They say there’s heaven for those who will wait, Some say it’s better but I say it ain’t, I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, The sinners are much more fun…” But is heaven really going to be boring? Is it going to be worth the wait for those of us who are saints? I think today’s verses show us very clearly that Billy’s fun, catchy tune gets it wrong.

In today’s passage, John continues to describe the beauty of the New Jerusalem. He said the angel showed him a crystal clear river that flowed from God and the Lamb through the middle of the city. This is a symbol of eternal life. The River of Life is dazzling and pure, undefiled, and flows in a never-ending stream from God to His people. He also describes a tree of life that harkens back to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3:22-24, we read of God banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because He did not want them to eat from the tree of life and live forever in a world that has been cursed and broken by sin. He didn’t want them to suffer the effects of sin for all eternity. Banishing Adam and Eve from the garden was protecting all of mankind from eternal life in a cursed world. It was a great mercy.

But once heaven and earth are restored, the curse will be no more. Sin, death, and suffering will be gone. Because of that, eternal life will be a blessing that we are free to access. There will be no danger in our immortality because life will be perfect. Just as God intended for it to be.

The river of life and the tree of life represent perpetual joy, blessing, and provision. They represent healing, restoration, and freedom from the curse of sin. Even better, we will see His face. We’ll see the God of this universe face to face!

The fact that our names will be on His forehead remind me of the movie Toy Story. Woody took so much pride in having the name Andy scrawled on the bottom of his boot. It meant he belonged to someone. He had a purpose. He was wanted and loved. In response, Woody was fiercely loyal to Andy.

Friends, if we are in Jesus’ Christ, His name will be on our foreheads. We are marked as His and this marker will never wear off and we’ll never outgrow our need of Him. We are designated as those who will live and reign with Him forever and ever. We won’t long for the frivolous “fun” of earth because we’ll be where we belong with Jesus, in a world so beautiful and so perfect that nothing else can compare. In light of these promises, we can be fiercely loyal to Him, no matter the cost. We bear His name and we belong to Him.

Pray

Lord, thank You for the reminder of the eternal life you have placed before us. Whenever the trials of life weigh us down, remind us that we are Yours now and forever. Help us to stand firmly and boldly for You. Amen.

~ Pastor Nat Crawford