And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. – Revelation 22:1-2
Pictures of tropical places with clear water and palm trees might catch our eyes. The sparkling waters of an open bay as the afternoon sun radiates down could make us pull off the road to admire the beautiful sight. The crystal-clear water of a spring rushing downhill may invite us to kneel down and take a drink to appreciate its freshness. Such beautiful spots certainly bring pleasure to our senses, but today’s focus verses remind me that the most scenic places on earth that I have visited, driven by, or glimpsed in a magazine cannot compare to what awaits the children of God in Heaven. Nothing will ever compare to what God has prepared for those who love Him.
It is evident that the Earth is an oasis of beauty in our galaxy, yet God is not finished creating. One day, the New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven in all its glory. A pure river flowing with the waters of life will proceed out of the Throne of God, which some Bible commentators believe to be representative of God’s incessant happiness flowing out to those who inhabit the City. In the middle of the City will be the Tree of Life. Its fruit, which will be fresh every month, will satisfy the hunger of the residents of the City, and its leaves will have healing powers. What a place!
Many blessings await the children of God. Partaking of the beautiful fruit will alone be a delight! But the best part of all is that God Himself will inhabit the City. We will actually see Him and reign with Him.
The last chapter of Revelation sounds like a fairy-tale ending, but it will be much more than that. It will be ecstasy, delight, bliss, rapture, pleasure, joy, and everything else that we do not know how to describe. It will be Heaven! We do not want to miss out, and we do not want anyone around us to miss out either. Watch for opportunities to say a word for the Lord to someone today, that they might also partake of the blessings that await us in Heaven.