Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:1-4.

 

“Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.  On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;  and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;  they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.”  Revelation 22:1-4.

 

————————–

 

Today’s Scripture, particularly the tree of life and the river, reminds us of the Garden of Eden.  “The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden;  and there He placed the man whom He had formed.  Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food;  the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden;  and from there it divided and became four rivers.”  Genesis 2:8-10. 

 

But, from Genesis Chapter 3, we know about the sin of Adam and Eve and how they hid from God and how God punished by the curses.  Yet, even in the middle of the curses, God vaguely hinted at hope and  salvation. 

 

“And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”  Genesis 3:15.  

 

“but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”  2 Timothy 1:10

 

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Genesis 3:13-14.

 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;  for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:1-4. 

 

And so, because of God’s work, instead of curses, we have blessings.

 

Because of God’s work, instead of a cursed earth, we have a new heaven and a new earth.