What is the glory of a King? It is the city or country that He rules. The state of the country is a reflection of Him and His rule….. As we look at chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation. We see the beauty and the glory of the New Jerusalem descending out from heaven.
As the King states His decree of the standards of His kingdom from the throne from verse 5-8, Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and He shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
John was shown the bride, the wife of the Lamb and the great high mountain descending out of heaven having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal as referenced in verse 10-11.
The Spirit of God is showing us what is ours and who we are to Jesus Christ, if we hold fast to the Testimony of Jesus Christ. He has created a new earth and heaven fitted for His new creation in Christ to habitat, us.
The called out ones will be here with Him one day…. the ones who set their eyes on Him. They believed in faith of His promise and cleansed themselves for the King.
This reminds me of the story of Esther. She was chosen for the king, yet she had to purify herself for twelve months. The six months of oil and myrrh and six months of perfumes to prepare herself for the king. She was given an attendant from the king to guide and counsel her so that she could please the king in the way she was presenting herself. Our Attendant and Counselor is the Holy Spirit.
Esther had learned to have a fragrance that the king was pleased with….. The fragrance, my brothers and sisters, is the walk in and by the Spirit in faith and not by our natural sight. That we see with the eyes of our faith, the ways and hopes of the King and live by them, in spite of what we feel and see and reason in our natural senses. Hey, just a thought, is this what Jesus meant when mentioned often, many are called and few are chosen….. selah!
John was given a reed to measure the length, depth, height and width of the kingdom. I wonder if the measurements were equal to the scripture found in Ephesians 4:13, Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
That is why it is so important that we understand that Christ in us is our only hope of glory with our King….. We must live Paul’s prayer of Ephesians 3;17-19, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now the reason we can strive to live the above prayer is because of the next verse 20, Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask and think, according to the power that works in us.
Our King expects us to obtain His glory. His glory is not for our fame or pride. We will not know His glory until all of that hidden pride in our heart is burned away like chaff. He wants us to be filled with His Spirit, so we can love Him and fellowship with Him. Once we love Him with His love that comes from Him, then we have His love for others. Sometimes our motives for people are that we are to be liked so we “love” in flattery instead by His Spirit in truth and grace. Jesus always loved because He spoke the Truth to all. He never held back any truth or grace because people might get hurt or offended. He loves because God is love.
He knows we can overcome all corruption and deceit because He has put His Spirit within us. As stated in 2 Peter 1;3-4, as His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
So during this time of preparation, let us walk by faith in the promises of God, knowing by His Spirit we have all we need to finish His race that He has set before us. We, as His people, long to be presented to Him as He is.
John says in 1 John 3;2-3, Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone that has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Remember, beloved of God, we having the glory of God- our light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal- without spot or blemish. Let us now submit to the sovereignty of the King as we hear and obey His Spirit to counsel us in preparation of that day. That great day when we shall see His face, as He is. Jesus Christ, our King and Savior is now and will forever be glorified from our obedience and love.
This is the city of the Holy One, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; His people, who boasted and followed in His way of the cross of their Lamb of God and King.
Jesus Christ is our glory and we, beloved, are His. Only a God like ours can love us in such a great way as He does. Increase in our hearts to love You in ever growing way day by day, Lord, for You are worthy of all of our love, honor and blessing. Amen.
