Revelation 21:15-21: a reflection

15He who spoke with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. 16The city is square. Its length is as great as its width. He measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, width, and height are equal. 17Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. 19The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was made of one pearl. The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

In John's vision of the new Jerusalem, an angel measures the city, and its beauty is described in the richest images available. Its walls are of jasper, the city of pure gold like clear glass; its foundations are adorned with every kind of precious stone, jasper, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst; its twelve gates are each a single pearl; its streets are of gold, transparent as glass. Every image of beauty and worth is gathered to picture the glory of the city God has prepared.

Notice the surpassing beauty of the city, described in the most precious things known. Jewels, gold, pearls, the costliest and most beautiful things this world offers, are used to hint at the glory of what God has prepared for his people. And even these are only pictures, images straining to convey a beauty beyond them, for the reality surpasses every earthly picture of it. The home God is preparing is more glorious than the most beautiful things we know.

That vision is given to lift our eyes and our hope. It is easy to become absorbed in the things of this world, its comforts and treasures, as though they were the best we could hope for. But God is preparing for his people a home of surpassing glory, more beautiful than anything here, worth more than all the treasures of earth. Lift your eyes from the present, and from the treasures of this world, to the hope of the glorious home God is preparing. Do not let the beauties and treasures of this life so absorb you that you forget the far greater glory prepared for those who are God's. The city of jewels and gold and pearl is a picture, straining to convey the glory God has prepared; set your hope on that home, and hold the treasures of this world lightly by comparison.

Lord, in John's vision of the new Jerusalem, its beauty is described in the richest images known, walls of jasper, streets and city of pure gold, foundations of every precious stone, gates each a single pearl; every image of beauty and worth gathered to hint at the glory of the home you have prepared. Let that vision lift my eyes and my hope. It is easy to become absorbed in the things of this world, its comforts and treasures, as though they were the best I could hope for. But you are preparing for your people a home of surpassing glory, more beautiful than anything here, worth more than all the treasures of earth. Help me lift my eyes from the present, and from the treasures of this world, to the hope of the glorious home you are preparing. Keep the beauties and treasures of this life from so absorbing me that I forget the far greater glory prepared for those who are yours. The city of jewels and gold and pearl is a picture straining to convey the glory you have prepared; help me set my hope on that home, and hold the treasures of this world lightly by comparison. Thank you for so glorious a hope.