March 14: THE HOPE OF GOD AND THE LAMB
And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Revelation 22:3
No more curse. Our opening phrase refers us back to the fact that sin had caused the earth and everything in it to be subjected to sin’s consequences.* The original word in the text for curse is katathema, a noun denoting something that is cursed, and not a verb (the act of cursing). The ideas of redemption and restoration are all about God’s hope for an inheritance. You might say, “But God owns everything! He already ‘has it all’ so what could He possibly stand to inherit?” Oh, beloved, He hopes to inherit you and me! And He leaves the choice up to each of us.
During these past six thousand years, God has allowed mankind to personally witness the painful, awful consequences of sin. Even those most innocent are affected. It is an affront to our sense of justice. But individuals, though born into a world of sin through no choice of their own, are given a choice to make. Will each innocent ‘victim’ morph into a villain or a victor? God has lavished upon us opportunities and all details necessary to make a wise choice. Make note: every proverbial “fork in the road” is marked with opposing ideas: revenge or forgiveness, pride or humility, exasperation or patience, treachery or loyalty, worldliness or godliness, deception or honesty. And all along the way, we are magnanimously shown glimpses of glory, bucketsful of grace, and eons of mercy.
The Heavenly City contains the throne of God and of the Lamb. The city’s dimensions are given as a cube: three equal dimensions, just as the specs for the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary, an allusion that the entire city will itself be the throne room of the Almighty. Glory!
Today’s world has everyone so preoccupied and busy that it is only too easy for God’s people to settle into a lukewarm state. The Lord Jesus points this out rather sharply (Revelation 3:16) and follows it with divine counsel to remedy the dire situation (vv. 18-20). And then, a promise! “To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (v.21)
In His quest for His inheritance — a mission of boundless love — those who hear and heed His call are blessed with a brand-new heart, filled to overflowing with gratitude and love. Such a heart makes each saved soul a loyal, loving servant. And His servants shall serve Him.
*For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Romans 8:20-21