1You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, that no one would boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands), 12that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, 15having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, 20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Dear Reader: Thank you for making it through this book of devotional readings. This is the last chapter of the Book of Revelation and the final chapter of not only this book, but of things to come. John describes heaven to us in such wild terms that it’s hard to know if it is an actual description or a metaphor. He opens the end with a description of a river of life and a fruit tree that bears a different fruit each month of the year. This is the end of the vision that Jesus Himself gave to John, the disciple whom He loved. Jesus tells us that we who are reading and listening to these words should be careful not to take away from the words of the book of this prophecy. We should never discount anything that the Bible tells us. It is all the inspired holy word of God Himself. There may be parts of it that we do not understand, and that’s okay. Just don’t take away or diminish any of what you do understand when you read it. Many pick and choose what they want to believe about the Bible. Thomas Jefferson didn’t like the miracles, so he created a version of the Bible which had all of the miracles excised (cut out) of the book that he produced. Jefferson literally “took away” from the words God gave us, and in doing so, he replaced what God wanted to communicate with what Jefferson wanted to communicate. Interestingly, Jefferson’s version of the Bible has never been seen by most of us. And, it will never be seen. Yet, there are many copies of the Bible available on all sides. God’s word will endure forever.
Hence, the end of Revelation is a true warning: if we choose to read the book as Jefferson did, there is no room prepared for us in that Holy City, heaven. Likewise, we shall not be blessed to partake of the “tree of life.” I assume that to mean eternal life with Jesus. In this devotional book, I’ve examined the prophecies that foretold of Jesus’ coming. I’ve cited instances from His ministry on earth. I’ve walked through the early days of the Church in the Book of Acts, listening as Peter, Barnabas, and Paul have brought the gospel to the Jew and to the Gentile. We’ve walked together through the writings of Paul, as revealed by the Holy Spirit, urging us to believe, repent, and walk in newness of life. We’ve received teaching after teaching urging us to walk in the righteousness that is our new identity in Christ and to live lives of holiness by seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit daily, and in doing what He calls each of us to do. This book describes how to be a Christian and how to live not like a Christian, but as a true, devoted Christ-Follower. Each lesson is another look at how to live out the words of this book, The Bible, in real time. That means in real life!
If you are a believer, there is plenty in this book to digest and to pull you closer to Him if you allow Him to do so. If you are not a believer, you are now faced with a choice. It is a choice of eternal consequences. It is a choice that God gives you in His mercy and grace. He loves you, even while you are a sinner (Romans 5:8). By His love, He has attracted you and pulled you toward Himself (Ephesians 2:4-5). He specifically tells you how to enter into a relationship with him (John 3:16), and how to be born again. He likewise tells you what saving belief looks like (Romans 10:9-10). This salvation, offered to you, cannot be earned or deserved. But it is available to you as a free gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Reader, are you ready to make such a commitment? When Abraham believed what God had said, God reckoned (or saw) that belief as righteousness. In that moment, Abraham was saved and found a place in the bosom of God for all of eternity. The same place can be set aside for you today. Today can be the day of your salvation. If you have never done so, I urge you to call upon the name of the Lord today and be saved! There is no better way to live.