Living the Light
Revelation 21:9-11, 22-26
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal… I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
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"[And] I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb." This reading from Revelation is one I could probably preach multiple times because there are so many ways in which we can apply this passage to our lives. The light of God, shining throughout the city, the nations that walk into it bringing their gifts and praise, and the people who come into it adding their unique selves to this brightly shining multi-faceted gem.
The New Jerusalem, the city that came down from heaven, is something that we strive for as a church and as individuals. The challenging part of this New Jerusalem is that the light of God touches everything that exists within the city, and that means that no matter how hard we try, we will have to come face to face with the things that we refuse to surrender to God. It could be hurt, a sense of loss, it could be anger, it could be sorrow, it could be a wide array of things, but we find that when we are not able to turn them over to God, it becomes hard to join a community that has done just that.
But have we done it? Have we done enough letting go to say that we have done our part? Can we honestly say that we have allowed the light of God to transform every aspect of our lives? Maybe we cannot confirm that we have allowed the light of God to change us, especially as we look around and see how our greed and selfish desires appear to outweigh our concern for others. And our wayward sense of self has meant that we are willing to put lives at risk so that we can go out and socialize as if our current landscape no longer exists. If we believe that God is with us, for us, and walking alongside us, then why haven't we altered our lives to reflect that belief and faith?
We often talk about what it means to be a spiritually led church, a church that exists beyond its walls, a church that goes out into the community, but perhaps we need to do some more soul searching. I've been thinking a lot about the early church, whose believers met in homes and often were not able to meet regularly out of fear of being arrested. I've been thinking a lot about our fellow Christians around the world in places where practicing their faith might mean prison or death and so they are compelled to practice their faith in private. I've thought about this because I've asked myself, "If we cannot stand worshipping from home for this handful of months, what does that say about our faith?"
As we look towards the New Jerusalem, we find that there is no temple there. There is no house of worship because the light of God touches everything in the city. And it is in this light where people walk the way of the Lord. It is not out of a sense of fear, but a sense of faith. Yet, in this faith, we find God's highest law of love. In this law of love, we discover God asking us to be a little more patient and caring as we know this time will pass. In this ongoing season of life, where many challenges present themselves, we have an opportunity to grow in our faith and understanding of how our faith shapes our lives.
So how will we allow the light that flows freely in the New Jerusalem to transform and renew us? What are the things that we have refused to let go of out of a sense of stubborn want? That process is not going to be easy, but it is doable and something we can accomplish. There are moments when it is easy to let go and alter our lives for the sake of others and times when it becomes more difficult. Yet, all of this is the kingdom-building work that God asks of us. It is work that cannot manifest if we offer our sacrifices with one-hand open and one hand clasped shut. However, by the grace of God, we are provided ample opportunities to walk on the lit pathways set in front of us by God.
The New Jerusalem is made to shine like a rare jewel. It is made to shine like a bright jewel only because all those who come into it add what they have to glorify God in a life-giving manner. That is the challenge for us today, tomorrow, and days ahead until our world changes for the better. So are you, are we, willing to continue to do our part for the safety and well being of all our neighbors out of a deep sense of faith and trust? It all depends really. It depends on whether the work that we have been doing in our hearts has been focused on what makes us feel good about our own needs or the needs of others and the community God has called us to.
"And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations." May we walk in the light of the glory of God together. Together may we look within ourselves and look out towards others, those whom God calls us to love and serve. And if we do that, then we may not only make the New Jerusalem a reality within our hearts but a reality in the world around us as well. Amen.