Episode Transcript
“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.” (Revelations 22:1-2)
My, how we need that.
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They 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.” (Revelation 22:3-5)
Maybe your heart, saint, is breaking as you sit here today.
Maybe things are really hard. And if they're not today, they may very well be tomorrow. We are not promised good circumstances. If anything, God's word promises us suffering in this life. As Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (I Peter 4:12-13) For our part, beloved, we press on. We cling to one another as we all cling to Christ.
For, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comprehension, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
But the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Those are not statements about how insignificant trials are. That's a statement about how great the glory is that’s coming. Suffering and then glory.
I leave you with this. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here, we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Everyday Grace 014
