Gathering at the River of Life



22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants[c] will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants[d] what must soon take place.”
“See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”  (Revelation 22:1-7)

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The banner above appeared in the auditorium at Calvin College, which was holding the annual Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Symposium.  I was taken by the visual imagery of the banner. My picture doesn't do it justice, but I would invite you to meditate on it and the accompanying reading from Revelation 22. We're in the midst of difficult times. We're apt to lose our grip, unless we find an anchor. The Book of Revelation isn't escapist literature. It's a call to abide in the Spirit of God in the midst of challenging times. May we draw strength from the Water of Life and the Tree of Life! There is no need to lose hope, but we must find the right anchor, so we can move forward into the future in the power of the Spirit.

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