Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:25-27

I have never liked reading Revelation. The imagery used were horrific as far as I was concerned. I must also admit that I still many times pay little attention to what it says. However this morning the second reading is from Revelation 21. A chapter that despite my best efforts to block, I know starts with the words or something similar “I saw a new heaven and a new earth”. It then describes the new Jerusalem.
A place which seems to me to suggest all are welcome, if its gates are never shut. Yet only some can enter. Those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Nothing unclean can enter nobody who practices abomination and falsehood will be allowed to enter. So exactly who will be there. It cannot be you and me because we are far from perfect. We have all done abominable things. We have all lied and hurt persons. Yes we have asked forgiveness, but the passage does not speak to that. It says only those written in the lambs book can enter.

What are the criteria for our names to be entered into the Lambs book? DO we truly know? Someone I am sure will offer me a piece of scripture that answers the question. Psalm 24 comes to mind. It repeats what John says “And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false and do not swear deceitfully. Again do I fit in here? Do my friends fit in here?

I once had a recurring dream as a child of my family, my neighbour who was probably my best friend at the time and I being caught up ascending into heaven. After a while they started dropping back and I was the only person ascending. I would wake up traumatized. It would happen anytime I read Revelation, hence my inattention to what the book says. I now understand the dream and what it was saying. I was being singled out for special duties. I am carrying out that special assignment.

John was a Jew who lived by a strict code of conduct, as written in the Torah. they were hard pressed to keep it. I do believe in these verses John was encouraging his readers as well as himself, to keep the laws, to keep faith, despite the pressure to do otherwise. As Christians we have come to understand that the laws are to be understood as outlined in the Gospel of Jesus: – Unconditional love for one another, for God and neighbour as self. It is our faithfulness to this gospel and through God’s grace that we will be found worthy to be numbered in the Lamb’s book.

I am reminded that God’s grace comes from God. Our worthiness is not of our own making. Our worthiness is decided by God. We are just called to be our best selves doing all to the glory and honour of God. As Verse 26 says our task is to bring Glory and Honour to God. May God give us the strength to do so.

As we embark on a new year may we focus on the things of God. May the Serenity prayer becomes our own as we grow from strength to strength.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference” Amen.