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; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:1-5)
Two days ago the world celebrated Christmas Day. For Christians, it is the remembrance of Jesus Christ’s incarnation—the mystery of God as man. Just over thirty years after his birth, Jesus would die on a cross as a propitiation for our sins. He would rise three days later, and several days after that ascend to His throne on high.
It’s a glorious story that is both historically true and of utmost importance. In remembering the life and death of our Savior, it is important that we not forget that His story is still be written. As Thomas Schreiner observes:
“The story is not over yet. Believers still await the consummation. They await the new creation, the completion of the new exodus, and the final fulfillment of the new covenant. Jesus will come again and transform the universe.
There is a new world coming, a new creation, a new heavens and a new earth. In that coming world God will be all in all, and Jesus Christ will be honored forever and ever. And the paradise that was lost will be regained—and more than regained, it will be surpassed.
And we will see His face (Rev. 22:4), and His glory will be magnified through Christ forever and ever.”
–Thomas R. Schreiner, New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ (Baker Academic, 2008), 866.