And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (Revelation 21:10-20)
Today's Morsel: When we look at our new home in heaven as displayed by John, we see that it is not only going to be robust and huge, but it is also going to be beautiful. As I looked at this building, John reveals the beauty of the foundation by identifying precious gems that are within them. Aaron's breast plate was also displayed with precious gems representing each tribe of Israel. Therefore, we can see the type of shadow from earthly things for heavenly things. The breast plate worn by Aaron, represented the beauty of righteousness and holiness and strength and power in one. The church is one. Paul said, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:19-22). That means that born again believers' lives must be built upon a solid foundation. Why did John draw our attention to the beauty of the foundation, and why must our lives be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets? Because beauty is the quality presented in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether it arises from sensory manifestations, a meaningful design or pattern, or something else such as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifested. We don't usually look at a foundation of a building as being beautiful because it isn't seen. This is why Peter tells us, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:3-4). Peter said that your beauty is hidden within. And when beauty is hidden within, it will be revealed outward for all to see. This is why scripture admonishes us, "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (Psalms 29:2). Holiness sets us as believers apart from nonbelievers. All because the beauty of holiness is the foundation of the church.
Sing: Glory hallelujah! I shall not be moved. Anchored in Jehovah and I shall not be moved, just like a tree planted by the waters, I shall not be moved.
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