Chapter 22

God’s Diamond Word for Chapter 22:

“By the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).

Jesus, in his first words in Revelation, tells us, “ Do not be afraid’( 1;17). His last words shout out, “I am the bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16).

Yesterday morning I awoke at 5 a.m. to see the moon and the planet Venus side by side in the eastern sky. The moon’s light felt cool; the light from Venus (the morning star) felt warm. That warm light (however tiny in the sky) made me feel hopeful about the day to come.

Depending on the chapter, The Book of Revelation has made me feel scared or disgusted, yet always hopeful. I still believe the whole book hinges on chapter seven:

“ I looked, and here was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation , from all tribes and people and languages standing before the Lamb (Jesus).

“They have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

They will hunger no more and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them. The Lamb will guide them to the springs o the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

My wife’s friend and caregiver, Janette, read these verses out loud to me right after Kenne died. They are etched in my soul.

Revelation tells me that everyone is washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. We are all going home to God.

If I give the hungry something to eat or the thirsty something to drink or take someone homeless into my home, going home to God will be no surprise.

If I have never fed the hungry or clothed the naked or taken in the homeless, going home to God will be quite a shock.

No matter who you are, Jesus is ALWAYS coming soon. He’s just around the corner.

Whatever he brings to me today will be what’s best for me, . Whatever happens to me today, His hand is always on my shoulder, as he says, “Do not be afraid. I am your morning star, your day spring from on high.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus Guide my feet into the way of peace.

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My thanks and prayers go out to Mary McKiel, and to Alex and Vanessa Ellerman for their fine editing help in this blog.

Thanks and prayers to Warren Burger for his editing and setting my words into excellent blog format.

Grace and peace to you all.