Revelation 22
The
60’s generation thought we were the
hope of the future. We thought we
were going to correct all the
mistakes that our parents had made; that politicians had made; that the
establishment had made.
Then
came the assassinations of John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert F Kennedy.
It was a tumultuous time with the Viet Nam war, demonstrations and Woodstock. Yet, we thought
we were the hope of the future.
What
keeps you going when you fail to meet your own expectations; your own hopes;
your own dreams? What keeps getting you up in the morning after life knocks you
down? What keeps you trying when circumstances seem hopeless?
"No longer will there be a
curse”… In
the 60’s, we thought we would put an
end to the curse. We were wrong. Only the Living God can do that. Through the
promises of Revelation 22, He gives us hope. Not only is it hope for us as
believers, but also for us to share with others in a world without hope.
When
John wrote the book of Revelation, circumstances did seem hopeless. Emperor
worship was being enforced. Christians were facing greater and greater
hostility, even to the point of martyrdom. John himself had been exiled to
Patmos, which was a penal colony, probably for his missionary activities.
God’s
Covenant of Hope always seems to include fruitfulness. He started in the Garden
of Eden; continued with the promise of a land filled with milk and honey; and
concludes with the promise of the restoration of Eden. See if you can visualize
this idyllic garden that John describes.
Then the angel showed me
the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of
the city. On each side of the river stood 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. 3 No longer will there be any
curse. NIV
"No longer will there be a
curse”… In
the 60’s, we thought we would put an
end to the curse. We were wrong. Only the Living God can do that. Through the
promises of Revelation 22, He gives us hope. Not only is it hope for us as
believers, but also for us to share with others in a world without hope.
(If
God has spoken to you, or touched your heart through this devotional, please
feel free to share it with others.)
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