Greg Boyd walks us through the vision of the river flowing through the holy city of God, showing us what it means to live as participants in the triune dance of God’s love. The fullness of the presence of God will occur at the end of time, but we can begin to live it now.
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The Eternal Dance
• Greg Boyd
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The final chapter of Revelation opens with a vision of God’s eternal presence and what it means to live in that presence. Greg Boyd invites us to consider our lives in light of this vision. It begins with an image of the Trinity, as the river represents the Holy Spirit that flows from the Father and the Son (the Lamb). The very life-giving presence of God flows directly down the middle of the central street of the heavenly city. There is no mediator like a temple or a priest, only the direct movement of God’s love into his people, the Bride.
The Tree of Life and the twelve crops represent the fullness of God’s provision which brings healing to all nations. The curse on the earth brought about by human sin and rebellion will finally be removed, and creation will be restored to what God designed it to be. It is crucial to note that the throne of God and of the Lamb are now located in the city. The presence of God is in the people of God and the people are in God. This reflects God’s ultimate purpose for creating the world, that humans are invited in on this eternal perichoretic dance of self-giving love. We participate in the divine nature (1 Peter 1:4). The vision concludes with a proclamation of personal intimacy with God, as we will see his face. We are promised to enter into full communion with God, something that the church tradition calls “the beatific vision.”
Greg focuses on one aspect of this vision, the image of the people of the city serving God. He expounds upon what it means to be an eternal servant of God. He roots this in the revelation of God in Christ, as explained by Paul in Philippians 2:5-6. There we see that Jesus let go of his divine privileges, not clinging to the bliss of his eternal equality with the Father. Instead, he emptied himself, became a human, and demonstrated what it means to serve. This is the essence of who the triune God is, and we are drawn into his eternal nature. We will be full participants in this love that flows through God’s city.
Today, we have the opportunity to join in this vision and participate in the flow of his love, to enjoy his presence, even in the midst of an evil world. We can begin to receive what will be fully expressed in the end. We can dance with God now as we embrace the call to serve as Jesus served.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: End Times, Presence of God, Trinity
Sermon Series: The Unveiling, The End Is the Beginning
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Focus Scripture:
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Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
