January 3rd
Heaven’s Open House
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2
How full is your life? No, I don’t mean your schedule; I mean your life.
Is your life everything that life should be? Is it full of joy and peace? Are you overwhelmed by how much love you encounter every day? Is laughter a rarity or a regularity in your household?
I imagine you reading those questions and thinking, Yeah, that does sound nice. How do I get there? Well, that’s a good question, and the answer is Jesus, because the place where that fullness of life becomes a complete reality is Heaven.
Many scriptures testify to God’s desire for us to be overflowing with life, and while this is something that should begin now, it can only be fulfilled in eternity. Our verses today speak to this coming fulfillment, and the picture they give us is absolutely incredible.
Imagine this-there is a river of water of life in Heaven. I don’t know how this works, how the water is transformed to somehow be life itself, but here’s what God says about it:
It’s pure. It is not just clean; it is pure! Nothing taints this flow of life; nothing pollutes this river. And it comes directly from the throne of God. He is the source of this river. And, what I think is the best part, it never ends. There is never a drought that could cause this river to dry up. It keeps on flowing and flowing forever and ever and ever!
The river isn’t the only part of this picture, though, for on either side of the river grows the tree of life. Ever-growing and ever-fruitful, you will never be disappointed with this tree. First, it keeps getting bigger-more and more life. Second, there is always fruit on it, and even a variety of fruit that changes with the season.
It is hard to imagine a more life-filled picture than the one God has given us in these verses, but you might be wondering what good that does you now. Well, aside from the hope it should stir in you for eternity, it shows you God’s heart.
His desire is for you to have more life than you can hold. He wants you overflowing with life, bursting at the seams, ready to pop with life! He is not some miserable old miser trying to steal your joy. No! Our God is the God of abundant life!
Prayer Father God,
Thank You that You want to fill me with more life than I can hold! I want to have that kind of life. Please have Your way in me until I am living with all the life You desire for me.
Amen