Sharing the Love

What would you do if there was no night, only daylight?

I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 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. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. 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 there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. - Revelation to John 21:22-22:5

The way John describes God's city, it is clear this will be a different time for us, a time where we are no longer bound by human needs, such as sleep.

Close to the Arctic Circle there is very little time in the dead of Summer when the sun is not visible in the sky.  The constant light causes problems with our natural clock which needs to rest.

Studies have shown that disrupting sleep patterns can have a serious impact on health, and sleep patterns tend to follow the day and night cycle.

So, from a totally pragmatic perspective, we are looking at something that will be new.  We also will be new, different from who or what we are today.

We will bring with us, the honor and glory of our nations, which I find really inspiring.  It seems to say that there is good in the world.

We may see ourselves constantly battling with one another, divided and beaten down at times, but there is good in the world, or there would be no reason to invite the people home to this eternal city.

So, this is a positive sign, even though we will no longer be who or what we were before.

You would think that those who hope they will be part of God's Kingdom living in this city would want to be living a life of honor and glory, not in doing battle against one another, but in sharing the love.

That is something to be thankful for.

More to come...