The glory of God shall be the only light we need
Revelation 21:22-27
22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 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. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practises abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
In the beginning, in Genesis 1, God said, “Let there be light” – God brought light to the world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” And in this passage the glory of God is the light of the new heaven and the new earth and Jesus, who is the glory of God, is the lamp be which all can see. Towards this completion the world, the whole creation, is headed. For creation is headed towards a completion when God will be all in all. A completion when the light of God will have dispelled all darkness (there will be no night – no darkness – no deeds of darkness). Light points to honesty – we use words like “transparency” – to speak of honesty and openness. All threat and all fear will be gone (the gates of the city of God will never be shut, vs. 25), there will be no need for security systems and locked doors.
The people of all the nations of the world, who have been followers of Jesus, will bring their gifts and abilities, their glory and honour, to join what God is doing in the city of God.
The light of the glory of God will bring this renewed world into being. Towards that world we live and hope and lean. We hope for the day when the light of the glory of God will shine everywhere. The darkness shall flee away, and with the darkness fear and despair, anxiety and hopelessness will also disappear – as the light of the glory of God shines for all to see. With this hope central in our lives, we live looking with anticipation for the full revealing of the light of the glory of God, and Jesus who is the lamp that shines that glory.
PRAYER:
God of glory, we look forward to the day when your glory shines and all darkness and despair are driven away. By the action of the Holy Spirit, shape our lives to live in hope and anticipation of your glory shining for all the world to see. In Jesus’ name. Amen.