June 11, 2005
Heaven's Asphalt
Heaven's Asphalt
Read: Revelation 21:14-21
The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. —Revelation 21:21
Revelation 21:14-21 (New International Version)
14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a]in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits[b] thick,[c] by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[d] 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
The story is told about a miner who struck gold and carried his bag of nuggets with him everywhere. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his precious nuggets. When he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt. "This isn't asphalt," he explained, "it's gold." To which the angel replied, "On earth it's called gold, but here in heaven we use it to pave our streets."
Granted, this is just a funny story. But it prompts us to think about what we consider valuable—and what is truly valuable to God.
What impresses me most about Revelation 21 is the description of heaven's street: It is "pure gold, like transparent glass" (v.21). We value gold as being the most precious of metals, and we use it to make our most prized possessions. In heaven it will be what we walk on. What a reversal!
The things we prize here on earth will not be so highly valued in heaven—the unnecessary things we buy and collect, stock portfolios and bank accounts, admiration and fame. When the time comes to bid earth goodbye, what value will they have?
Earthly possessions are temporary. Remember, our true wealth is in heaven. —Vernon Grounds
The street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. —Revelation 21:21
Revelation 21:14-21 (New International Version)
14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[a]in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits[b] thick,[c] by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[d] 21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.
The story is told about a miner who struck gold and carried his bag of nuggets with him everywhere. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his precious nuggets. When he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt. "This isn't asphalt," he explained, "it's gold." To which the angel replied, "On earth it's called gold, but here in heaven we use it to pave our streets."
Granted, this is just a funny story. But it prompts us to think about what we consider valuable—and what is truly valuable to God.
What impresses me most about Revelation 21 is the description of heaven's street: It is "pure gold, like transparent glass" (v.21). We value gold as being the most precious of metals, and we use it to make our most prized possessions. In heaven it will be what we walk on. What a reversal!
The things we prize here on earth will not be so highly valued in heaven—the unnecessary things we buy and collect, stock portfolios and bank accounts, admiration and fame. When the time comes to bid earth goodbye, what value will they have?
Earthly possessions are temporary. Remember, our true wealth is in heaven. —Vernon Grounds
The way into heaven could not thus be bought;
The blood of the cross is my only foundation,
The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought. —Gray
Those who lay up treasures in heaven are the richest people on earth
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