Revelation 21:1-6 (NRSV)
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Chapter 21Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Verse 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Verse 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; Verse 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." Verse 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Verse 6Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Devotion
The beautiful poetic imagery of John's Revelation engenders a vivid picture of eternal life. The important thing for us in these images is to hear the surety of God's promises. John is writing to a community of early Christians for whom the lion’s den may be the next stop if they do not confess Caesar as Lord rather than Christ. In a similar way the enslaved African-American community seized upon this glimmer of hope through their spirituals, anticipating beauty in the life to come.
The promise of God is to be claimed for all of us: "Behold, I make all things new—I am the Alpha and the Omega—to the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life." That's a promise we too can claim now as in faith we forge the beauty of a Christ-like love for the 21st century.
Prayer
Translate for us, O God, the words of revelation to make the beauty of love radiate throughout our lives. Amen.