All that glitters: Peeking through the doors of heaven
Shakespeare may have been wrong when he penned:
“All that glitters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold.”
The Apostle John had quite a different vision of gold than the poor souls who seek gold this side of heaven. In Revelation 22, the Apostle John records the vision given to him by God. He saw the heavenly city where believers in Jesus Christ will spend eternity. As you read the verses are you able to imagine the splendor it describes?
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. ~Revelation 22:1-3
The vision John receives gives us a sneak-peek of the splendor of heaven! The water of life, which comes from the throne of God, is flowing throughout the city. The river is literally crystal clear. Completely transparent. See-through, like looking through glass. The streets of heaven are gold (not gold plated), so I imagine the crystal water having the slightest tinge of gold coloring. Maybe something like transparent gold. What do you see?
He also describes the river as bright. So, I imagine since God is the source of all light, this sparkling effect is from Himself. Have you ever seen the water ripple on a warm sunny day? It gives the appearance of thousands of diamonds glistening over the surface of the water. This is what I think of when I think of that bright body of water in heaven. Glittering gold and sparkling diamonds!
As the vision continues, John notices the tree of life on either side of this magnificent river. The tree of life will yield twelve different fruits. Wow! Can you believe that? Talk about your fruit-of-the-month club!
This tree also holds another purpose, healing. In heaven, all sadness sorrow, grief, pain, hurt, suffering, loneliness, and despair will be healed. All malicious acts of hatred and every murderous thought will be banished. The chain of sin that separated mankind from God will be gone. We will be who God created us to be, and we will be in perfect fellowship with Him. Like Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden.
However, the gold streets, the crystal water, and the tree of life bearing an overabundance of fruit, is nothing in comparison to the next glimpse into heaven.
John sees the throne of God and of the Lamb, and he sees all of us there; worshipping our Father and our Savior! What a glorious time that will be! Greeting each other on the golden streets of heaven. Sitting beside the translucent crystal river of life, maybe wadding in it or swimming in it or fishing in it. Reaching up into the tree of life and plucking the delectable fruit of the month. And all the while we are in a perfect relationship with each other and our heavenly Father. Worshipping the God of creation for eternity.
I took some liberties imagining what it may be like in heaven, and I don’t mind telling you that I am EXCITED! What are your thoughts about the water of life and the tree of life? Are you excited about the thought of going there? Are you ready? I am!
What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the promised land
And together I shall be
With the One who set me free
What a day, glorious day, that will be!
More to read and ponder:
