I just finished my trip through the Bible from cover to cover. I find it fascinating that the story of God and man starts in a garden, and so, so quickly goes bad. The twist at the end of the book? Eden restored.

After reading the entire Bible, I find hope in the promise of future restoration: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nation.

People throughout the Bible suffered persecution, warfare, famine and calamity. Stories of cowardliness and pride emerge, as well as powerful examples of bravery and sacrifice. Life rolls on, the good and the bad, the uplifting and the tragic. The upheavals and setbacks that mark our lives never seem to end. We live in a fallen world.

But the promise at the end of the book remains. One day, leaves from the tree of life, nurtured by waters from the throne of God, will carry their healing powers to all the nations. You and me included.

Then there will no more curse, and the servants of God will look upon His face. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22 in week fifty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Timothy Eberly