December 31 – Today’s Readings – Revelations 21-22 and Proverbs 31
Chapter 22:17 reads “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Here, at the end of this book, we find a pure Revelation of the heart of God towards mankind. He simply wants people to come to Him – to walk with Him – to love and to be loved by Him – to drink the water of life. What incredible living water this is – “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” [Revelation 22:1]
This “water” flowing from the throne of God brings nourishment to a special tree that only God’s children can eat from – “the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” [Revelation 22:2]
Adam and Eve could have eaten of this tree at the beginning of recorded time but they chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil instead. [Genesis 2:9 &17 and 3:6]
We have this privilege now! We drink of the river of life when we “drink” Jesus! We have the ability to dispense healing to the nations now! We can change the eternal destiny of people now! They don’t have to go to a Christ-less eternity because we still have a little time left to cooperate with the Spirit of the Bride and bid them “come”. It is a “free gift” – an eternal gift. Now is the time, for very soon there will be an eternal shift of seasons and God will speak the words – “Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong – let him who is holy continue to be holy”. [Revelation 22:11]
The season of grace and the gift of repentance will end on the Earth and people’s eternal destiny will be fixed. 2Peter 3:10 reads; “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought we to be? We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of the Lord and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
While it is still “daylight” we should be at work. While it is still “harvest season” we should be laborers in the harvest. While there is still time to invest our “talents” we should invest into people’s lives! “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” [Revelation 22:20]
Assignment:
1. According to this passage both “the Spirit” [the Holy Spirit living in you] and “the Bride” [the Church you are part of] say, “come” to all the people of earth. This is obviously the attitude we must have in approaching people – we must be harvesters for the Lord. Make a “New Year’s Resolution” to invite people to Church and to a relationship with Jesus Christ throughout this coming year!