“Boggles the imagination”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Sunday, May 22, 2022

Revelation 21:10,22-22:5 (Forward, p. 24) CEV p. 1313

Here we get a glimpse of the New Jerusalem, and quite frankly, it boggles the imagination, mine at least. The account says that there will no longer any night, which to my thinking is rather sad. Unlike pre-industrial peoples which did not have incandescent lighting, I do not fear the night, but rather appreciate it for the rest it provides and the sense of rhythm it provides to the day. I, for one, would have a great deal of trouble, I think, in living in the Arctic in the high summer when the sun never sets.

Interestingly, however, our text says that the Lamb, which is Jesus Christ, will provide light to the city and guidance to the nations of the earth. (So, I might ask, if there is no darkness, is a light even necessary?) But maybe the light, as described here, is meant more in the sense of seeing clearly and understanding more fully, illumination in the intellectual or spiritual sense.

The text presupposes that there are still nations (or peoples), still kings (or rulers), and still riches or treasures of some sort. But there will be a big difference: no longer will peoples or nations be ruled the way that they often have. Their governments will be totally reformed. There will no longer be any lying or deceit, no questionable thinking or behaviour: indeed, nothing unworthy will find a place here, and any sense of being blighted or cursed by God will be gone. And, as for illness—I’m surprised that there is even a need for healing here--there will be an immediate remedy.

However, what is most glorious is that the rift, the separation, between God and us will be removed, forever. Unlike times past when we could only receive what was only brief and partial, mere glimpses of God as it were, we will now see God face to face. We will no longer need temples or churches, or any physical location, for our worship, for our relating to God, for He will be there, right with us, fully seen and fully accessible.

Truly, all of this rather boggles my imagination, for I scarcely perceive of such a thing. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have that kind of close, intimate, no-holds-barred relationship with God. Nevertheless, a new world where all corruption and ill-doings are gone (especially in government) and all disease or illness rapidly taken care of is really quite appealing. Yes, it does boggle the imagination. Previous generations spoke of the ‘pie in the sky’ as being something they greatly longed for. Well, a city with streets paved with gold etc. (see verses 18-21), isn’t really my cup of tea, but a city where social and physical ills are eradicated certainly is. So, that is what I will yearn for, work for, and pray for, at least in the meantime. Amen.

Forward notes: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (verse 4).

“It is hard to keep Christ in the front of my mind.

“One college spring break, with a group of about twelve, we hiked into the Escalante Canyon in Southern Utah. It is part of the beautiful desert northwest of the Grand Canyon. Near the area where we camped, the canyon walls seeped drinking water.

“Amid towering red sandstone cliffs, a devout Baptist tenor who was studying music education belted out a Gregorian setting of the Kyrie: ‘Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison,’ and the canyons echoed. Then, only the wonder and glory of God were on our minds.”

MOVING FORWARD: “Celebrate the name of Jesus with a congregation today. Let God be in the front of your mind.”