Are You in the Book!
May 13th
Acts 16:9-15 Rev. 21:9-14,21-27 John 16:23-33
† In the Name of Jesus †
May this day, the Lord do to our hearts, like Lydia’s, that we may pay attention, and know the grace and peace of God, given to us in Christ.
The City
In our reading from Revelation this morning, we are brought alongside the Apostle John, as he stands on a mountain top, accompanied by an angel…
As you can, close your eyes, and picture what his words so incredibly describe…
Even from the high mountain, this city’s boundaries are enormous, a square some 1500 miles long, and 1500 miles wide. This entire city, shines with the glorious light of God, like the most brilliant gemstone you have ever seen. Picture the wall which surrounds the city, is over 200 feet thick, and composed of 12 layers of various gemstones, each later 18 feet thick! They too, reflect and shine the glory of God, which reflects, and is refracted through the colors,
On each wall of the city, there are three access points, reminiscent of Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness. These gates, are each made of one pearl, and at each one stands a mighty angel, that none should pass in, save those who belong in the city.
Such a glorious city, this new Jerusalem, the gathered people of God, all those of faith, whether drawn from Old Testament Israel, or drawn from the New Testament Church, they are all together. Shining with God’s glory, people from every tribe, and tongue, and kindred and people. A city not needing anything, for these people live in the presence of God. A city with the name – the city founded for peace…
This is the city, at the end of time, and the beginning of eternity, where God’s people will dwell in peace,
My question for you today, should I look, will I find our names listed in the city’s phone book?
Are you in it’s “Book”
Better question – are you a resident therein?
Well, perhaps not the phone book, but the book that identifies every inhabitant, every resident of that city. The Book identified in our passage today as the Book of Life, the book that scripture tells us has had the names of its residents listed since before their birth, indeed, before the very foundations of the earth! The Book of Life that according to Revelation 13:8 belongs to the Lamb of God, that was slain.
Will we be residents of that city, with streets that are of gold? The city whose gates are guarded by angels?
Why you might not be listed
Unclean, detestable, false
There is a description of those who will not be welcomed in this incredible city, found in our reading today. It says there, “27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false,”.
In the Old Testament, the same rule existed, when Israel camped in the wilderness. When the people of Israel set up camp, the camp was arranged in a very specific pattern. To describe it, I will use our altar area. The alter area, in the center of the camp, is where we would find the tabernacle – the place where God’s Spirit dwelt among His own people. On each side, we would find three of the tribes encamped in their own tabernacles, with the camp being the entire area surrounding the tribes.
In the 2nd through 5th books of the Bible, written by Moses, goes into great detail about what is unclean, and what is clean. A great deal of that which is considered unclean, is that which is come in contact with sin, and more often, the ultimate penalty of all sin – death. An example is the anything bloody, for it is in the loss of blood, that the loss of life is evident. Or coming into contact with those who were uncircumcised, and worshipped other Gods. Anyone being declared, because of something scripture described, were to be kept outside the camp – outside the fellowship of God.
At that time, being kept outside the camp was for a period of time. In many cases, it was until the evening sacrifice, after which, the person was cleansed, and could re-enter the camp. Interestingly, the bodies of all animals whose blood was spilled to make sacrifice for sin, were also taken and buried outside the camp, taking the place of those who had sinned, and could now return.
But now, in the time described in this passage of Revelation, after the day of judgment, there is no longer the option for cleansing. That which is bound to sin, and to death, no longer has the hope of the sacrifice. Any claim to being part of the people of God, is false, any hope is gone, for their sin is theirs, an abomination to God.
I love Luther’s description of God, in view of this passage,
Although we pay no attention to these sins (original =things) and do not sob because of such a disgraceful fall, yet God sees them. Therefore He tries to purge our unclean (original =impure) nature. This is what He thinks: “You have been enlightened and baptized; but you still stink, and your flesh is full of many great vices. Therefore I must cleanse it, for that which is unclean and polluted shall not enter the kingdom of heaven” (cf. Rev. 21:27). This is where God’s game begins, not that we may be destroyed, but that He may examine us and lead us to a knowledge of our foulness, yet not in such a way that we despair, but rather that we cry to Him, invoke His mercy, and learn that He shows His mercy wondrously,
What an incredible picture of God’s grace – destroying our fleshly nature, not to destroy us by His wrath, but that we might cry to Him, and learn of how He treats us with His wonderful mercy. That which was unclean in us, has been stripped away! We are allowed, invited, welcomed into the camp, into the City where Peace is Founded!
A moment ago, I mentioned that the body of the animals, whose blood was sacrificed for sin, were taken outside of the camp and buried. The passage that mentions this, and tells of the people being welcomed into the camp, is actually found in the new testament,
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and vto share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Our entrance to the Holy City Jerusalem, the city that gleams like the most brilliant of gems, is found outside the earthly city, to the mount called Golgotha, to a man bearing the sin and iniquity of us all! Jesus, the prince of peace, has taken that which was unclean, detestable, and false in each one of us, and for those that trust in Him, has gained for us, the opportunity to re-enter the City, to dwell again, in the city where God’s peace reigns! From before the beginning of the world, His sacrifice was planned, and therefore, those who believe, their names have been there, from that point!
The place of absolute beauty! This city of peace! The place where we, the city, the people of God, shine in the glory of God, given to us, because of our encounter with the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who leads us to place our faith in Him!
Move to Table
My friends, as you trust in Christ, know this, that you are welcome in the city of God, in the place where He dwells among His people. You are listed “in the Book”! You are welcome to share what you have been given, to invite your friends to come as well, and share in the blessing Christ purchased for them, when he was dragged outside the camp.
Imagine that day in the future, the first “day” in the presence of God, as we gather around, Him, His people. Picture the friends and family you love and care for, there as well, because you were able to share what you have been given by Jesus. Picture even your enemies, who now love you, and you love, without concern. Because God’s peace, is between you both! So you love each other now, even as you love your closest friend. See us all, gathered there by God, even as He gathers us to His table now.
A picture of this, and even more, the reality of this, we will share in a moment, when we are welcome in the presence of God, and share in the Body that was given to take the wrath due ours, and the Blood that was spilled, as an offering for our sins, and the guarantee of those sins being forgiven, stripped from you – so that we are welcome in the presence of God.
Here now, at the altar, and then, in the city founded for peace, God’s city, the New Jerusalem. Our home, for eternity! With Him!
May that peace of God, the peace that goes far beyond our understanding…guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until we are that city!
AMEN?
AMEN!
