Bible Pathway - Dec. 31, 2009
Revelation 21
Highlights In Today's Reading:
A new heaven and a new earth. . . . all things new (21:1-5). End of pain, sorrow, and death (21:4; 22:3). Do you know The Lamb? We will see His face (22:4). He and God are the Temple and the Light (21:22-23,25). Who can enter (21:27; 22:14)? The River of Life, the Tree of Life (22:1-2,14). Jesus is coming soon (22:20)!
A "little white lie never hurt anybody" is a thought sometimes expressed in today's self-centered society. But, to the Lord, lying is a very serious sin with eternal consequences. God is Truth and Jesus said the devil . . . is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44).
Jesus also said the fearful, and unbelieving . . . and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire (Rev. 21:8). Note the characteristics of the unsaved, beginning with the fearful — the coward who will not confess Christ, for fear of what others might say or do (Matt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9). The unbelieving may be morally good, but they are lost sinners who will be cast into the lake which burneth with fire.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person . . . hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. . . . Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:3-5,17-18). Mortify (make dead) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication (sexual immorality), uncleanness (immoral activities), inordinate affection (uncontrolled passions), evil concupiscence (unholy desires), and covetousness (all greed), which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience (Col. 3:5-6; Heb. 13:4). As wicked as sins are, God is willing to forgive even the vilest sinner (I John 1:9). His love reaches out to every repentant sinner who turns from their sins to allow Christ to be Lord of their lives.
If you have not received Christ as personal Savior and Lord of your life, do it now. The Word of God must be your guide. You can never be good enough so confess your sins to the Heavenly Father, putting your trust in Jesus who died to save you.
We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure (I John 3:2-3).
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).
Thought for Today:
Let brotherly love continue. . . . Let your conversation (daily conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Heb. 13:1,5).
Cross References:
For Rev. 21:4: See Is. 25:8. Rev. 21:23: See Is. 60:19. Rev. 21:25: See Is. 60:11. Rev. 21:27: See Is. 52:1. Rev. 22:2: See Ezek. 47:12; Gen. 2:9. Rev. 22:3: See Zech. 14:11. Rev. 22:12: See Is. 40:10. Rev. 22:13: See Is. 44:6; 48:12. Rev. 22:16: See Is. 11:1. Rev. 22:18-19: See Deut. 12:32.
Word Studies:
21:9 The bride, the Lamb's wife =the Church, the Lord Jesus' Church; 21:16 twelve thousand furlongs =2500 miles; 21:23 lighten it =illuminate it; 22:7 prophecy =foretelling, forth telling, teaching; 22:16 angel to testify =messenger to bear witness.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by Dr. John A. Hash • Staff: Barbara Bivens • Government Officials: Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ), Rep. Harold Rogers (KY), and Rep. Heath Shuler (NC) • Country: Saudi Arabia (20.9 million) on the Arabian Peninsula in southwestern Asia • Major language: Arabic • Christian worship services for foreign personnel are tolerated, but those who seek to convert Muslims to Christianity face persecution • 86% Sunni (Wahabi) Muslim; 10% Shi'ite Muslim; 1% Ismaili Muslim; 3% Others (including 600,000 Christians and some Hindus and Buddhists) • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and rejoice in the Lord for all His spiritual blessings (Is. 61:10).
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 28:20
