LIGHT OF LIFE
LIGHT OF LIFE
The other day, a friend and I saw a lighthouse at a store we were at. Of course, my eyes went immediately to it. She knew my love of lighthouses and she asked me, “Do you think there are lighthouses in heaven?” I said that would be perfectly amazing!
My mind goes to Revelations 20:11 thru chapter 22. The writer of Revelations, Paul, sees a vision of heaven. Some of the things he saw, written in this text here are: “Book of Life opened”; “judgment to each one according to his works”; “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”. These verses also talk about a new city, with so many different beautiful stones to array its walls, foundation and gates: he also saw “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal”: also, “there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him” meaning we will no longer be tempted by sin. Sin will be erased.
Do we know if this portrayal of heaven is truly what heaven will be like? No. We won’t know until that time we enter in. But isn’t it wonderful to think about these things in Revelations to give us peace and hope. The best our human imagination can imagine! We won’t have tears because of no pain or death. That rejuvenates with me-pain. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis. Not being mobile or weather changing or too much activity can cause me to hurt. I have sweet older friends who struggle with pain all day long. Isn’t it amazing, that those who are in constant pain, will have no pain at all in heaven! We will also, not grieve because of death. All my grandparents, my husband, my mother and several sweet friends, have all passed away. The pain lessons as time goes by, but never goes away. All the beautiful parts “shown” us in heaven, give us an earthly visual, for us to realize that heaven will be so much more beautiful than we can even visualize in our human thoughts.
We are also told in Revelations 21:23 “the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” Revelation 22:5 reads “There shall be no night there. They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” 1 John 1:5-7 reads “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Heaven will be full of light; there will be no darkness there! Those who have bad eyesight or are in the darkness of being blind, will have light surrounding them! Praise God!
I would rather be in the light than in darkness. I have trouble seeing to drive when it is dark outside. Now, that I am older, I am concerned about tripping over something in the dark. There are all kinds of bad things that happen in the dark than in the light. 1Thessalonians 5:2, when talking about when the Lord will come at the end of the time says, “…the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” Matthew 24:42 says “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” In other words, we don’t know when the day of the Lord will come. Just like when a thief in the dark night, breaks in to rob someone. The thief is not expected. Read Matthew 24:36-44. Some of us will be doing laundry-at work-taking a nap-showing anger towards another-taking a walk-in middle of a wedding ceremony, when the Lord comes again. We just don’t know the timing! Matthew 8:12 reads, “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This is a visual that I do not want to see at eternity! Do you? This tells us that there will be anguish-torment-grief if not entering eternal life. Read Matthew chapters 24-25. Talks about “…everlasting punishment…” It will never end. I, instead, want to see the light for eternity! Don’t you?
During class at church, we have been studying the book of Job. So much we can learn from this book in the Old Testament. The devil tests Job to see if he will turn his back on God. In chapter 29:3, Job is remembering before all the calamities happened to him. It reads “When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light, I walked through darkness.” God’s light had shone on him even in any dark things that happened to him, in the past. He had divine blessings and success through God shining His light on Job. Chapter 33:30, speaking of the fact that God does not want us to go to hell, rather He wants us to have a meaningful life, “…enlightened with the light of life.” Chapter 34:21-22 reads “For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” These verses, let us know that God sees all human actions and knows our thoughts. This is comfort to those who are serving God because He is right there with us, taking care of us, and involved and aware of our path. To those who are not following God, it is a warning that God knows all and no actions are hidden from Him. There is no deep darkness where evildoers can hide from His sight.
Something to think about. In the creation, on the first day, what did God do? Genesis 1:3-4 tells us “Then God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” The first day in creation, was God separating the light from the darkness! Think about that!
The light of life is through God and in service to Him. I want to live in this light of life! I want to be restored to spiritual vitality and a renewed relationship with God after a period of suffering or near death. It symbolizes more than just physical existence; it represents spiritual enlightenment, divine presence, hope, and the promise of new life that comes from being in harmony with God. This light of life, is a message of redemption and renewal, showing that God’s goal is not punishment but restoration and bringing individuals back from spiritual death to a new, flourishing life through His grace and mercy.
The light of life is open for all, no matter what situation you find yourself in. Search for it and you will find that light, so you can get out of darkness. We are told so many times in God’s word, that God is light. He is the only way out of darkness of this world!
Will there be lighthouses in heaven? That is one of the most beautiful things that I can imagine! I am going to do all I can do on this earth in service to Him, in order to find out! I want to follow the light of life eternal. How about you?
Till next time!
Keela