“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.”
Let’s build another mental picture of the Holy City, specifically of this river of crystal clear life-giving water. Just keep in mind that no matter how beautiful you picture this, it will be way better! (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Before Jesus left this earth after His resurrection He told us that He was going away so that He could get a place ready for us to live. Then we could always be with Him (John 14:1-3). The Bible calls this place a city. Common names are: the New Jerusalem, Zion, and The Holy City.
As stated elsewhere, according to some Bible translations this city will be about 1,400 miles square (Revelation 21:16 NLT). When you place a 1,400 mile square over a map of the United States you begin to see that this City is HUGE! You can fit all of the Great Lakes and still have room for large mountain ranges inside the City walls.
The Bible says that in the middle of the New Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:3 KJV), “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1 KJV), is the Throne of God sitting on a mountain called Mount Zion, the Mountain of God. Flowing from this Throne is a river commonly called the River of Life. This isn’t a muddy or polluted river; it’s clean and clear. Have you heard of it before? If you have, did you ever wonder where it's going? What it looks like? What its purpose is?
I envision this river as bringing life-giving water to the entire city. Because the Holy City is in a huge square, most likely this river will branch and become numerous smaller rivers so that it can bring this living water to the farthest corners of the City.
I dream that some of this water may even go underground and travel for hundreds of miles through caves and aquifers and re-emerge as both small and large springs, and maybe even geysers that shoot this crystal clear, life-giving water high into the air. These springs and geysers would also turn into rivers and streams, all of which would continue traveling down the valleys of the surrounding mountains and hills following narrow gorges, maybe falling hundreds of feet making huge waterfalls.
Some of this water will likely puddle into very small ponds but most of the water will flow into very large lakes. From these lakes will flow more rivers and streams which will continue to follow the valleys, flowing over even more waterfalls and into more lakes.
I envision that by the time this water reaches the city’s walls it will have completely provided exactly what was needed by all of the lush vegetation, as well as all of the needs of animal and human life. I don’t see any water left over because it has done it’s job. Even the grass and flowers beside the walls will be green and colorful.
Can’t you just see it? As far as your eyes can see there will be the lush green of open fields and rolling hills, the vibrant colors of the flowers in the meadows and streams. Look at the forests with every hew of green. Look at the color and variety of the fruit hanging from trees and vines beside the rivers, and the flowers of every shape and color. And this river was created by God to care for your needs too.
Why? Just for you! It was made this way by none other than Jesus Himself because He loves YOU. He not only wants you to live, but to totally enjoy living. He wants you to live without the fear of dying, and He wants you to live with Him because He loves you!
It's your choice. Choose life! Choose Jesus!
Oh Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us like this! Thank You for giving us this amazing hope. Thank You for telling us just enough about our HOME so that we can dream about it.
We know that the dreams that we have for ourselves do not match the ideals that You have for us. What You have planned for us is so much better, perfect even. We know that You love us even more than we love ourselves, and so right now we ask that You help us to trust You totally.
Again, thank You!
