A Good Reason To Believe

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was previously a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.  1 Timothy 1:12-16 NASB

This time of year is full of laughter, light and joy and sorrow, darkness and sadness. 

When we think of the new heavens and new earth that the book of Revelation gives us a brief glimpse of, I think of it as the brightest and most beautifully lit place our eyes will  ever see. We have good reason to believe that too, especially when considering it will be the light of God that replaces our former need for lamps, light switches, and the sun. I think we can safely assume that His eternal kingdom will be no dimly lit world! For the Lord God will be our light. 

Revelation 22:1-5 NASB And 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. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.

Jesus is the light of illumination. All that has been hidden will be revealed by the light of God. All the internal darkness our hearts have been immersed in will be lifted and replaced with the beautiful, guilt-lifting covering of God. Imagine the astonishing clarity and warmth of such a light upon your face! Amazing grace! 

The illumination of Christ that we will one day live under can be experienced even now, as God gives us glimpses of it through the reassurance of Holy Spirit in our hearts.  God is never obscured by the darkest night. Whatever our eyes are unable to see, God sees with undimmed clarity.