The Hope of God’s Perfected Worship #2
He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. Revelation 21:17-21 As we continue to meditate through John’s hope-filled vision of the future of heaven (Rev. 21:1-22:5), we’re focusing for a few days on God’s worship, and what the unbroken and glorified worship of God will be like in the new heaven and new earth. We have no greater calling or privilege in life and eternity than to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength-which is the essence of what it means to worship God. And we can only love God with such consuming delight as we come alive to the way God so passionately loves us in the gospel. Indeed, we love God, or anyone, because God first loved us through the person and work of Jesus.
This is highlighted in today’s text. In verses 17-21, John uses quite an array of gold and gem stones to describe, metaphorically, the profound intimacy and felicity with which we will worship God forever and ever. Of special note are the twelve, that’s right, TWELVE foundations of the city walls in the New Jerusalem. Each foundation is represented by one of the gems stones which was embedded on the breast plate of the high priest who served in the old Jerusalem temple. Israel depended on the faithful work of the designated high priest, who on the Day of Atonement, would present an offering in the holy of holies on behalf of a sinful people.
The glorious symbolic point? This is an unshakable city whose citizens, every one of them, will enjoy living and loving in God’s full-bore presence without fear or any need to ever hide from him again. We who were made for shame-less nakedness before the face of God will know this privilege and freedom forever. We dare dream of such a Day because Jesus, our great high priest, offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross, once and for all. In light of that Day, we freely and boldly come in this day, before his throne of grace. NOTHING but this gospel prepares and positions us to worship God acceptably, in this day or in that Day. NOTHING but the gospel can move us to forsake our selfish and shortsighted worship agendas for God’s.