Daily Devotional December 4, 2010

"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Revelation 21:22-23

Please lay aside any preconceived notions you have about heaven for a moment. John was actually in heaven during this vision. He participated in events with you an me at different junctures in the book of Revelation. At certain times in the book of Revelation John was taken into the future and we were already there with him. The Bible doesn't mention you and me by name, but we are there with John as he gets a look at the future. What John is seeing is you and me in the presence of God, in the light that is God as well as his visions of God and the Lamb of God and the seven lamps of fire which is the Holy Spirit. So what does that have to do with our lives today.

You were chosen to see and be in the glory of God, filled with the Light of God, completed for all eternity. Why do you need to be convinced over and over again about who God is and what your part is in the overall plan of salvation? I know dozens of men and women that have been going to church for forty years or more and they only know religious rhetoric. Start talking about the daily walk or the long haul, about talking to God or the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit and they look at you as if you were embarrassing yourself with some strange affection for God. Religion works for those who are not interested in following Christ. But religion falls short if you have any hunger to be in and do the will of God.

The reason is:
Religion represents too many factions.
Religion is where the ego can be nurtured to unnatural levels.
Religion makes room for man's idea of God.
Religion stretches the truth to accommodate its storehouses.
Religion becomes a crutch to live two lives with a blessing, the church face on Sunday and the man of the world whenever.
Religion makes one needy and starves the believer from a full plate of truth.
Religion warms itself by using guilt as its kindling.
Religion has turned eternal truths into stories and allegories.
Religion creates lemmings, not eagles.

Now, if you think I am church bashing, you have totally misread this message. We are exhorted to join, attend and participate in groups. This is best done in church. But the days of resting on your religious affiliation (church denomination) as your answer to life's questions is over. God wants converts, not members.

Your church affiliation is very important and everyone should be part of a family of believers, but you must look beyond the rhetoric and denominational jargon if you are going to follow Christ. The life in Christ is fluid and you will have to be up on your inner man intuitions and found in the closet praying, and out doing for someone, somewhere, without anyone knowing, and giving from your heart if you are going to transcend religion's trappings.

You are going to be transformed from one glory to another after you die, and in the presence of God as seen in this verse you will be in the light, but until you die, you are responsible for activating how much light is available to you. How much light do you let in?