Living Water #600

LIVING WATER – EPISODE 600|| 25TH  JANUARY, 2026
By Solomon Uwumbolibe Mensah

THE GLORY OF GOD’S ETERNAL DWELLING

Revelation 21:17–23

“The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick… The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

As John’s vision of the New Jerusalem unfolds, God draws our attention away from decay, darkness, and limitation, and into a realm defined by glory, purity, and divine presence. Revelation 21:17–23 is not merely a description of a future city; it is a revelation of God’s intention for eternity. Every measurement, material, and absence in this city speaks prophetically. God is showing us what life looks like when sin is fully removed, redemption is complete, and His presence fills everything. This passage invites us to lift our eyes from temporary realities and fix our hope on the eternal dwelling God has prepared for His people.

1. A Measured and Perfect City

The angel measures the wall of the city—144 cubits—using human measurement, yet under divine authority. This reveals that heaven is not chaotic or abstract; it is ordered, intentional, and secure. The thickness of the wall speaks of permanence and protection. Nothing unclean, corrupt, or threatening can breach what God has established. Heaven is not fragile. God’s eternal dwelling is perfectly designed, fully complete, and eternally secure for those who belong to Him.

2. A City Built with Glory, Not Decay

The wall is made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, clear as glass. On earth, gold can tarnish and glass can break, but in God’s city, beauty and strength coexist without flaw. The transparency of the gold reflects purity—nothing hidden, nothing corrupt. Heaven is a place where holiness is not restrictive but radiant. Everything reflects God’s glory without distortion. This reminds us that God is not just preparing a place that is beautiful, but a place where His nature is fully expressed.

3. Foundations of Precious Stones

The foundations of the city walls are adorned with every kind of precious stone—jasper, sapphire, emerald, ruby, amethyst, and more. Foundations speak of what sustains and supports. God is showing us that eternity rests on unshakable beauty, value, and divine craftsmanship. These stones reflect diversity within unity, glory layered upon glory. What the world calls rare and priceless, God uses as building material. Heaven redefines value. What is eternal far outweighs what is earthly.

4. Gates of Pearl: Access Through Great Cost

Each of the twelve gates is made of a single pearl. A pearl is formed through suffering—through irritation transformed over time. These gates remind us that entry into God’s eternal city came at a great price. Access was not cheap; it was purchased through sacrifice. Yet the gates are not barriers—they are invitations. God has made a way for His people to enter freely into eternal life, not through human effort, but through divine provision.

5. No Temple, Because God Is There

John observes something shocking: there is no temple in the city. Why? Because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. In eternity, there is no separation between sacred and secular, no distance between God and His people. Worship is no longer confined to a place—it becomes the atmosphere of existence. This fulfills God’s ultimate desire: to dwell fully and permanently with His people. Relationship, not ritual, defines eternity.

6. No Sun or Moon, For God Is the Light

The city does not need the sun or the moon, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. Light represents life, truth, guidance, and clarity. In eternity, there will be no darkness—no confusion, fear, or ignorance. God Himself illuminates everything. Christ, the Lamb, is the visible expression of that glory. What we now see by faith, we will then see in fullness. Eternity will be lived in uninterrupted light.

Living Today in the Light of That City

Revelation 21:17–23 challenges us to evaluate our present lives through the lens of eternity. If this is our future dwelling, how should we live now? God is calling us to pursue purity, faithfulness, and intimacy with Him. The glory ahead should reshape our priorities, strengthen our endurance, and deepen our hope. We are not living for a fading world, but for a city whose builder and maker is God.

God has prepared an eternal dwelling that reflects His glory, holiness, and love. It is secure, radiant, and filled with His presence. This is the inheritance of the redeemed. Let us live as citizens of that city even now—walking in the light, valuing what is eternal, and longing for the day when God Himself will be our dwelling place forever.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the glorious future You have prepared for Your people. Fix my heart on eternity and not on temporary things. Help me to live in purity, faith, and obedience as a citizen of Your coming kingdom. Let Your light guide me now, and prepare me for the day when I will dwell forever in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.