2018-10-29


考慮我們的命運Contemplating Our Destiny

 [每日靈修] 10/29/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯   

約翰啟示錄的異象提供了一幅關於天堂將會是什麼樣子的光輝畫面。在天堂的大門口會有一堵高牆,有十二個門和十二位天使。牆上有十二根基。大門會用以色列十二支派命名,根基會用十二使徒命名。

這座城市將是四方形的,有碧玉的牆。牆的根基用珍貴的寶石裝飾。十二個門是十二顆珍珠。這座城市將由純金製成,街道將鋪設透明的黃金。

然而,當我們考慮到聖城最重要的存在物時,這些令人驚嘆的榮美和華麗的畫面都將顯得微不足道:「在城裏有神和羔羊的寶座;祂的僕人都要事奉祂,也要見祂的面。祂的名字必寫在他們的額上」(啟廿二34)。

天堂是上帝顯現的地方。基督,在祂完全的輝煌中,將會在那裏。我們會見到祂的面。我們要對祂說話。我們將聽見祂的聲音。我們將以無法形容的喜樂事奉祂。我們不確切知道天堂會是什麼樣子。實際的情況肯定會超過一切的圖像或符號。但我們知道——天堂就是耶穌所在之處,這是我們的命運。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
反思永遠在上帝的面光中會是什麼樣子。

進一步研讀:
啟廿二14 天使又指示我在城內街道當中一道生命水的河,明亮如水晶,從神和羔羊的寶座流出來。 在河這邊與那邊有生命樹,結十二樣果子,每月都結果子;樹上的葉子乃為醫治萬民。 以後再沒有咒詛;在城裏有神和羔羊的寶座;祂的僕人都要事奉祂, 也要見祂的面。祂的名字必寫在他們的額上。

Contemplating Our Destiny

John the Revelator’s vision provides a glorious picture of what will be in heaven. There will be a high wall with twelve gates and twelve angels at the gates. The wall will have twelve foundations. The gates will be named for the twelve tribes of Israel and the foundations for the twelve apostles.

The city will be foursquare, with walls of jasper. The walls’ foundations will be adorned with precious gemstones. The gates will be pearls. The city itself will be made of pure gold and the streets will be paved with transparent gold.

These images of breathtaking beauty and opulence pale into insignificance, however, when we consider the most important presence in the Holy City: “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:3–4, NIV).

Heaven is the place of the unveiled presence of God. Christ, in all His splendor, will be there. We shall see Him. We shall speak to Him. We shall hear His voice. We shall serve Him in unspeakable joy. We don’t know exactly what heaven will be. The reality will surely exceed all images or symbols of it. But this we do know—heaven is where Jesus is, and it is our destiny.

Coram Deo
Reflect on what it will be like to be forever Coram Deo … in God’s presence.

Passages for Further Study
Revelation 22:1–4