Three Identities…Telling of Love

Revelation 21:1 - 22:5     George Badeaux

In Revelation chapter 21 God speaks to us about our identity in 3 different ways.  Knowing our identity is important.  We live out of our identity.  It affects how we interact with others, including God Himself.  We want to get this right.  We want to start from the appropriate identity, not a false one.  It is important to know the truth about our identity, and not walk in lies about ourselves.

In verse 3 it says, "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.”  We are already His people in a very special way.  But Revelation speaks of the full expression of this identity, the final goal of God’s moving progressively closer and closer through “Immanuel, God with us” to His ultimate goal.  His desire.  Because He loves us.

In verse 7 it says, "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”  Christians are already His sons.  But again, there is a higher expression of this at the end of time.  He loves us in a very special, Father and son kind of way.  He uses one of the two highest forms of love we know as humans to try to explain His love for us.

In verse 9 it says, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."  We know from elsewhere in the new testament that the bride of Christ is the church - the church worldwide, all Christians.  This relationship is the main focus of chapter 21.  God uses the closest of all human relationships to help us understand His love.  And I believe that the detailing of all the beautiful precious stones is partly to tell us how beautiful He thinks His bride is.  He loves us!  He loves you!  He thinks we are beautiful!

This is our identity.  The God who created the world, who created us, who supplies the way for relationship with Himself, who has the power and authority to throw Satan and all those who refuse His love into the lake of fire - this mighty and glorious God loves us, thinks we are beautiful, and desires to spend eternity in intimate relationship with us. 

We are blessed.  We are Loved.  We win!!!