via TJC
“The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.” Revelation 21:24-25
Continuing the theme for this week’s DBOs on fulfillment… fulfillment of God’s plan… set in motion at Creation, described to us in the book of Genesis… and ultimately completed in the book of Revelation. So far in our study of re-Creation, we’ve meditated on:
1) God’s invitation for us into New Jerusalem,
2) God’s preparation of New Jerusalem, and
3) God’s lighting design for New Jerusalem…
It’s time to look at 4) the entrance to New Jerusalem.
Let’s go back to Genesis, placing ourselves in the shoes of Mr. 'Āḏām! We’ve just committed the first sin this world ever knew after eating from the forbidden tree… How does God respond?
“So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
—Gen.3:23-24
Make no mistake—God didn’t just slap us on the wrist… He banished us, drove us out, and placed His trusted angelic beings to guard the entrance with a flaming sword so that we never entered again… that is, until Jesus posted our bail through his work on the cross.
Notice the change in entrance policy after the bail was posted:
“On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”
—Rev. 21:25
There is not a day God’s Kingdom will ever be shut… meaning, if we’ve believed in the saving power of the Gospel, and begun the lifelong endeavor of repentance, our admission is promised to us.
Thus, (going back to this week’s theme…) God’s plan was fulfilled through this newly established entrance, thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Daily Battle Order:
So what do we do with this promise? Relish in it. Realize what this says about God’s character: We screwed up, but God forgave. Think for a moment the Day you walk through the opened gates, and see Jesus there to welcome you with scars in his hands.
It’s all as real as the words you’re reading now. Thank Him.
All of my Christian life I've been told the Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament yet I never saw the connection or perhaps was not taught to see the connection until this week. Thank you for teaching me through your DBO's this week and through this series what it has meant that Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament. After all of this time...I understand!