The Illuminating Presence Of God.

The Illuminating Presence of God.

Revelation 22:1-5NKJV

I really appreciate John Ortberg’s quote about God’s Presence: "Now let us bring God into the picture. The reality with God is that we are never speaking or acting in his absence. The psalmist said, 'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.' However, God allows us to sometimes feel as if we are away from him, which I think he does for a reason. Do you ever drive differently when you see a squad car behind you? Why? It is not because your heart is changed. It is not because you see that squad car and think, Oh, I want to be a good driver. You don’t want to get a ticket! You don’t want that little light flashing in the rearview mirror. You see God doesn’t want forced compliance. God is so immense that if he were 'too visible,'people would give forced compliance without expressing their heart.’

‘So God makes it possible, in enormous love, for us to live as if he were not there.”

In the caption of my Bible are these words—Eden Restored. Everything Adam and Eve missed out on, because of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil has been restored.

Sustained life—The God kind of life.

Total peace, and joy—No confusion, no sorrow.

Full worship along with total glory.

Full satisfaction and completion—No lack.

Revelation 22:1-5TLB And he pointed out to me a river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb, 2 coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew Trees of Life,[a] bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month; the leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

3 There shall be nothing in the city that is evil; for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will be their light; and they shall reign forever and ever.

Long before the first coming of Christ, Ezekiel the prophet was shown something of what would happen at the end of time. He was given a vision of a temple and a city. The book of Revelation makes clear that the visions shown to Ezekiel in, Ezekiel 47:1-12, will be fulfilled—the new heavens and new earth will transpire. God takes Ezekiel to the very throne of God, and Ezekiel the prophet sees this Water of Life.

We rarely hear much about heaven, primarily because of the cares of this world. We become numb, while hardness tries to meander its way into our hearts. In the natural, these words from Revelation, almost seem like a fairytale.

However, death has a way of waking us up to the reality of eternity, because one day you’ll say with me—“Eternity means more than I could ever imagine!”

Revelation 22:1TLB And he pointed out to me a river of pure Water of Life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb,

Again, this water of Life flows from the very throne of God.

God in the center, Jesus on His right side.

The third member of the Trinity bringing a life-flow of living water—Touching everything it comes in contact with.

Verse 1a, Here, the river is an emblem of peace, happiness, plenty; and the essential thought in its flowing from the throne is—that all the happiness of heaven proceeds from God!

Yes, heaven is a happy place. There’s no sorrow, and no crying—God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes—Revelation 21:4.

Did you know that God bottles our tears?

Psalm 56:8NLT You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

—So Remember.

God records your tears—Jesus hurts for you.

Romans 8:26, records that the Spirit himself, groans within us.

Back to Revelation 22:1, Again, This River of Life flows from the throne of God—Where God lives.

Remember what Jesus said in John 7:37-38NKJV, He spoke of this same river. 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Hear this word—As believers come to Jesus—Jesus responds with drink. The heart believing Saint of God, drinking from the rivers of God—Rivers of Living Water!