New Jerusalem is “clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:11), “like clear glass” (v. 18), and “like transparent glass” (v. 21). Fallen man is the opposite – darkened and hardened (Eph. 4:18). But Christ has redeemed us from our fallen state and has become our life and our light!
We need to apply this picture to our daily life. Today we have God in the redeeming Christ shining within us, and we are being transformed to be transparent. In our old creation we are opaque, but in our new creation we are transparent. Second Corinthians 3:18 says we are being transformed into His image from one degree of glory to another degree of glory. Eventually, we will have the appearance of jasper and will fully express the “jasper God” (Rev. 4:3).*
Jesus Christ is the light and we are “now light in the Lord” and should “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). But there is still much darkness in us after our regeneration so we need the Spirit to transform us, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18—we turn our hearts to the Lord, veils are taken away, we behold and reflect Him, and we are gradually transformed into His image to express Him in glory.
* From chapter 43, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986
Posted by Don on October 30, 2023
Republished with permission from Blogs.crossmap.com, featuring inspiring Bible verses about prayer.