THE GLORIFIED STATE Devotion 4 of 25 – Tomorrow:
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal . . . "
The pure river of the water of life was "clear as crystal." Most of the major versions read "clear as crystal." Some other versions read, "bright as crystal" (NRSV), "clear as glass" (BBE) and "sparkling like crystal" (NAB).
CLEAR. The word "clear" comes from a word meaning shining, brilliant, clear, transparent, splendid, and magnificent (Strong's). The word is translated "white" in Revelation 15:6 ("pure and WHITE linen"). Again, it is translated "white" in Revelation 19:8 ("clean and WHITE"). The meaning here is transparent, and without any defiling or obscuring contamination. The water is absolutely pure, partaking of the nature of God Himself and the Throne upon which He is seated.
AS CRYSTAL. Crystal is a precious stone that is clear, like the most refined kind of quartz, and was often used as glass. You could see through it without distorting images on the other side of the stone.
Thus, this pure river of the water of life is said to be pure and uncontaminated. Nothing was found in it that obscured, clouded, or made things difficult to behold. It shimmered with celestial glory, itself pure, and enlightening all about it – an illuminating and translucent stream that promoted and sustained life and vision.
This is an aspect of glory that can scarcely be imagined while in this world. Alas, even in our best times, "we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Some of the most fundamental Divine iterations often require considerable meditation and contemplation before they are perceived with any semblance of clarity. Even when we walk in the light as He is in the light, we sense that we often seeing but the outline of truth, and the borders of the promised land.
Even after we are given profound glimpses of the truth, and it has been stated in the most clear and concise language, we must stand back and shout, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Rom 11:33). With David we acknowledge, "Your thoughts are very deep" (Psa 92:5 NKJV). Even when the "riches of Christ" are brought within our grasp, where they can be enjoyed and contemplated, we acknowledge they are "unsearchable" (Eph 3:8). There is more to them than we can grasp. They are higher than we can reach, wider than were can embrace, deeper than we can plumb, and extend further than we can see. This circumstance provokes a lifetime of inquiry, seeking, and pressing toward the mark. As long as we are in the body, a profound sense of mystery surrounds the truth of God.
It is our "earthen vessels," and not the truth itself, that produces this situation. We are not limited by the truth itself, but by our human capacities. They have been blighted by sin, and thus cannot handle the scope of eternal verity. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is, indeed, a "treasure." But it is held in an "earthen vessel," frail and restrictive to an extent we cannot presently fathom.
However, this will not be the case in the world to come. There, the flow of life-giving truth will be marked by perfect and undiminished clarity, both in what it brings to us, and how it is received and perceived. In the world to come, the "river of water of life" will not only be abundant and pure, it will also be comprehensible. This is another way of saying, "but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Cor 13:12). The far-reaching implications of truth will be apparent to us. The significance of Divine utterance will be obvious to us as we no longer peer into a hazy mirror. The truth itself is pure (Psa 119:140; Prov 30:5). However, the "vile body" (Phil 3:20-21) in which we presently reside, emits a sort of spiritual fog that removes much of the apparency of the truth. This condition is a source of great grief to those living by faith. They are quite content to live without comprehending life in this world, but they are not content with the prospect of a lack of perfect clarity in the world to come. While here, the limitations under which we operate are a constant source of frustration. Thus the redeemed cry out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24).
Well, child of God, deliverance is on the way! Your inheritance includes total deliverance from everything that hinders. The things of God will no longer travel to you amidst obscurity. You will no more peer at eternal things through eyes that are not fully equal to the sight. How blessed, therefore, to read of a "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal." Never again will you be subjected to anything that is defiled, unclear, imperceptible, or has the lingering odor of corruption upon it. Why not develop an appetite for such things now? If will make for a smooth transition from time to eternity, and from this world to the world to come.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus' name for the solid prospect of perfect clarity. Help me by Your grace to develop a hunger and thirst for such things now, that I may freely drink of the pure river then.