Golden Light

Notes from the Study


The new Jerusalem is described in the book of revelation.

16 The city lies foursquare, . . . 18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. Revelation 21:16–21 (NRSV)

Waking up early in these brisk Autumn mornings is truly a blessing. In its rising the sun blazes across the horizon flooding the still sleeping earth with cool, bright light. The remaining leaves on the trees catch the rays of light and filter them, but they can’t take away the golden color of the of first light.

This morning as I looked out the window the description of the New Jerusalem came to my mind. The light filling the air could have been reflecting off the “golden street” described for us in Revelation 21.

Of course the Golden Street as well as the bejeweled gates are metaphors. But reflecting on the golden light renewed my faith that after the deep darkness of the night God brings forth a new, golden day for the earth, for each of us, and for the church.

Sometimes we are tempted to look back at the “golden days” of our past and long for life to return us there–to that day of promise and plenty. But God does not want us to go back. God leads us steadily onward, day by day, from still waters and green pastures into a newer, brighter, “golden age.”

God will not force us to take one step forward, but the Lord is ahead of us, calling to us to follow.

Almighty and gentle shepherd prepare us for the journey ahead into the golden light of a new day. Help us to move beyond the darkness that sometimes threatens to swallow us whole. Open our eyes to the work you have for us and fill us with faith and hope. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finding Yourself

In the 60s it seemed like everyone was on a mission, “to find themselves.” We asked, “Why was I born? What difference does my life make? What was I meant to do with my life?”

In search of purpose in life some decided to live a communal life, sharing everything. Others went into the Peace Corps or VISTA. Some just wandered around this country and the world hoping to “find” some meaning. And a few just tried to escape into the drug scene. But I think most of us just did what Sharon Budzier reported she has done. “I've just worked at a job, supported my church, and tried to be a decent human being.”

Then, Sharon had an important revelation: “It has finally dawned on me that I am meant to go about God's business while I'm going about mine. Of the many choices I make every day, each one can be evaluated in light of one question: What would God want me to do?”

Today the popular phrase is WWJD, What Would Jesus Do. But the question should be the one Sharon asks in her daily life, “What would God want me to do in this situation?”

In my opinion Sharon has truly “found herself” in realizing that purpose in life doesn’t come from doing something the world calls significant. Our purpose in life is to do go about our daily lives with our hearts open to God’s purpose and leading.

Quotations from The Upper Room Daily Devotional—email edition, July 29, 2004. © The Upper Room 1996-2004.