March Madness

Revelation 22:1-5

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022%3A1-5&version=NIV;NLT

  

March Madness is the name given to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It’s called that because crazy things can happen during the tournament. On any given night, a Cinderella team from the Ivy League could beat the top rated team in the tournament. Anything can happen.

 

Being an alum of Michigan State University, I’m a VERY big fan! In fact, the finished portion of our basement is dedicated to the Spartans. Last Sunday

we advanced to the Final Four. Did you catch that… we? As if I played in the tournament. But that’s how it is for any avid fan. If your team won, then “we” won. You’re involved in the victory.

 

John wrote about what it would mean for Eden to be restored; for the River of Life to flow through it; for the Tree of Life to bring life, and not death.

 

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

 

Just like death came as the result of the sin of one person, Adam, so life came as the result of one person, Jesus. His life of love, obedience and sacrifice to the point of death, paid the price for our sins. Through his act of redemption, we are redeemed. Through his victory, we are victorious. Jesus played “the game”, but we are the beneficiaries.

 

March Madness is a great time of the year. Of course, for me it helps if Michigan State is still in the tournament. And when “they” win, “we” win. The victory is ours. And when Jesus won over sin and death, we won over sin and death. His victory is ours. That’s way better than an NCAA championship.

 

 

 

Here's another message on the same passage.

 

 

TRANSFORMATION

Revelation 22:1-5

 

³ No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.           NLT

 

These verses present an image of light and life, not darkness and death. They paint a picture of God’s servants living in His presence constantly and for eternity. What would that be like?

 

Moses was in God’s presence at the burning bush, and came away a changed man. Jesus spent time in his Heavenly Father’s presence on the Mount of Transfiguration and was transformed physically. If you or I spend time in God’s presence, we will be transformed. We will be a new man; a new woman. Changed from the inside out.

 

I experienced this many years ago when I went on a personal 24 hour retreat. When I returned to the office, one of my co-workers commented that something was different about me. Being in the presence of God will do that.

 

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.         NLT

 

Although Revelation is an image of the future, the goal for you and me, as believers and followers of Christ, is to live in His presence in the grind of daily living. This is not just a goal for us to attempt to achieve, like climbing the corporate ladder. This impacts every aspect of how we live.

 

God is always at work in your life. He is always present. Jesus is always standing at the door knocking and waiting for you to invite him in to your life at home, at work and in your leisure time. Let us open the door for him to enter. If you do, you will be transformed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Perfect Biscuit

Revelation 22:1-6

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022%3A1-6&version=NIV;AMP

  

My daughter Tara had a pet labradoodle that was like a big kid; a VERY big kid. Kendal was hyperactive and had very little discipline to resist jumping on you and licking you when you walked in the door. Despite this, Tara was able to teach her a good trick.

 

When Kendal would sit still for a minute, Tara would put a doggie biscuit on her nose and tell her to wait. Kendal would sit there wistfully looking between Tara and the biscuit on her nose. Finally, when Tara would give the command, Kendal would inhale the biscuit.

 

This is a perfect example of delayed gratification. We all practice delayed gratification every time we resist buying another pair of shoes or the perfect golf club. Or limit what we eat instead of eating without limit.

 

As followers of Christ, we practice delayed gratification when we resist the temptation to act out on our sinful thoughts in hope that one day we will enjoy the presence of God in Heaven. John paints a picture of Heaven as Eden restored; a paradise without blemish.

 

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [Christ], ² in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion]…         AMP

 

The Amplified Bible titles these verses, “The Perfect Life”. This is what waits for those who follow Christ. Everything will return to how God intended it to be in the beginning; to live in His presence, in a constant perfect relationship.

 

Like Kendal, if we are patient and disciplined and willing to practice delayed gratification, we will enjoy the “perfect biscuit” that is waiting for us.

 

 

The River

Revelation 22:1-5

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022%3A1-5&version=ESV;NLT

 

Was there a river running through your life when you grew up? You’ve probably never heard of a small town called St. Louis, Michigan. That’s where I grew up. Winding

through the town is the Pine River. It was there before we arrived. It was there after we moved away. It’s still there. Every day, it wound around people’s lives.

 

When I lived there, the river took you past everything that seemed important. For instance, Westgate subdivision that included the grade school where I attended. The Chemical plant that provided hundreds of jobs including my Dad’s. The power plant with its turbines generating electrical power.

 

The river flowed past the edge of Main Street where people shopped at the IGA or A&P and at the dime store. Then, just before meandering out of town, the river ran right behind St. Louis High School; home of the Sharks. For generations, SLHS prepared young people for the rest of their lives.

 

For myself, I lived in a house which was located on a hill that overlooked the river. The river was a place for fun for me. It provided frogs and turtles to hunt. It provided ice skating where I pretended to be an Olympic speed skater.

 

The river provided for the lives of the people of St. Louis. Where it started or ended, I didn’t know. It was just there; always there.

 

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.         NLT

 

What river runs through your life? The Pine River didn’t look like much. It certainly didn’t look anything like the River of Life. But it did bring life to the people of St. Louis.

 

The River of Life brings hope and healing. It brings eternal life. It brings Living Water. It brings light. It brings the presence of the Lamb of God. It is the presence. For the people who live by the River, their lives are transformed.