John saw a new heaven and a new earth. He also saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. And he heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” In verse 24 we read that the nations shall walk in the light of this city. This is how it will be in eternity. This was the city that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were waiting for. They lived as foreigners in the Promised Land. Heb. 11:8-10. This city is now being built, and Peter writes, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:4-5. And Paul writes, “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” Eph. 2:20-22. We see that this habitation is being built now while we are in this world. We also read that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father . . . .” John 14:9. God dwelt in Jesus and by Him His habitation was among men. It is also God’s intention that He shall have a habitation in us among men. The majority of people do not want to have anything to do with God. He has to stand outside and knock. People’s hearts are busy with the glory of this world and its anxieties. God’s Spirit is working with them, but He does not have a habitation in them. He can find them thinking about God’s kingdom for a little while, but then other things crowd in that are dearer to their hearts, and we can say that God’s Spirit is without a home. However, it is not meant to be like that with us, but rather the opposite. Our hearts and minds must be preserved in Christ Jesus. The work that goes on with a person is extensive when he is to be built up to be a habitation of God in the Spirit. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation . . . . Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor. 5:18, 20. We are called to great things. We are ambassadors for Christ. We need to remember that in all circumstances. We have the ministry of reconciliation. People are enemies of God, of the gospel, and of the cross of Christ. Phil. 3:18. They murmur over their situation; they complain because they don’t have enough of this world’s goods; they complain about their fellowmen. This is where we have a ministry to perform. Yet many people do not realize that they have this ministry, and they get carried away by these same anxieties. However, God shall dwell in us among people. When we meet people, we shall be ambassadors for Christ and perform our ministry of drawing their minds and thoughts to God. Then we will be like the sun of righteousness that shines into their darkness. This will be for their salvation if they do not harden themselves. From this we learn that God’s work with us here on earth will be revealed in eternity—what He was able to build with faithful and humble souls in an evil and ungodly world. Now the nations do not want to walk in the light of the God-fearing, because there is a veil over their faces. However, a few have enlightened eyes of the heart and seek fellowship with God-fearing souls. They begin to walk in their light with the result that they also come into fellowship with God and can be a habitation of God. 1 John 1:3. That grace is available now, but in eternity, once everything has been restored, they will be what they are. Those who have not partaken of this edification—who have not been molded to be conformed into the image of His Son—are earthly and not spiritual. But they are reconciled to God and have asked for their sins to be forgiven before they died, just as the robber on the cross. They will be of the nations. They have no understanding of God’s laws and His wisdom; they have to walk in the light of the city, but they will never be part of the city. They did not avail themselves of this grace while they lived on earth. But the others, those who were not reconciled to God and who did not want to have Jesus as King, will be cast out into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Rev. 21:8; Luke 19:27. We read more about the city in Revelation 21:23: “And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light.” Neither the sun nor the moon illuminated the city, which means that it was not illuminated from outside but from God and the Lamb whose thrones were in the city. It received its light from within. It is the same thing now. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples. The Holy Spirit was to take from Him and proclaim it to them. He was to instruct them in all things. Nowadays people live completely differently. They receive their light from outside. Their understanding of life comes from what they see and hear from others. They drink of the spirit of the times, whatever is modern. They don’t dare break with customs; they have to follow along and slave away under the course of this world. Eph. 2:2. They have to have whatever the others have, and they have to be whatever the others look up to in order to have a name among their contemporaries. It is a different matter when it concerns the city, those who are the temple of the Holy Spirit. They are instructed and guided from within by the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts. They live it out in their lives without fearing other people’s opinions. That will be the water, clear as crystal, that proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev. 22:1. “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.” Prov. 25:26. If a person suffers from the fear of man, with the result that he does not live in the light through the works that the Spirit has shown him—in other words, he is a respecter of persons—then the water will not be as clear as crystal but rather murky. Or if a person blends his human reasoning with the instructions that the Spirit has given him in his heart and lets his lusts rule to a certain extent, then the water becomes murky. Then he has fallen out of that simple faithfulness. Paul feared that this is what the Corinthians had done. 2 Cor. 11:3. However, Jesus said, “He who believes in Me . . . out of his life will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38. Then the flesh with its passions must be crucified, and we must say farewell to all partiality—all “ifs” and “buts”—and simply live the life as the Mediator instructs us. Then those who are upright will taste and see through us that God is good. This saving grace is over us in these days. May none draw back from it, but enter into the ministry and be a habitation of God among men.Sigurd Bratlie

“If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” “If God were your Father, you would love Me . . . .” John 8:39 and 42. Not everyone who says he is a child of God is His child, but only those who do God’s will. God’s children are those who are born of God and are united with Him in His ways, and who love the One whom He has sent. God’s children are righteous just as He is righteous. 1 John 3:7. They are peacemakers. Matt. 5:9. They love their enemies, bless those who curse them, do good to those who hate them, and pray for those who persecute them. They are to be perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect. Matt. 5:44-48. They consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in them, and because they are willing to suffer, they will be rewarded by being heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. They have not received the spirit of bondage, causing them to be afraid, anxious or worried about the future. They have received the Spirit of liberty and of adoption in which they can rejoice in the hope of the redemption and glory of the children of God. Because they live a life of obedience in this Spirit and overcome in their daily temptations and trials—both small and great—they do not need to cast down their eyes as Cain did, but they can look up and boldly call out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with their spirit that they are children of God. Rom. 8:14-18. You might say, “Is it really possible for us wretched and miserable beings to partake of such an exalted and blessed life?” Yes, it is possible! Those who receive Christ as the Light and the Truth have the right and the power by His Spirit to be true children of God in the midst of an evil and dark world. John 1:9-13. “Child of God” is an exalted name, so let us be aware of our responsibility for the honor of this name! “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3.Aksel J. Smith