Devotional for the Annual Meeting

No longer will there be a curse upon anything…

Revelation 22:1–5 NLT

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

As I was looking into our series leading up to the cross and the resurrection, I was watching a few Max Lucado videos. He came to one place and he read the Scripture, “No longer will there be a curse upon anything.”

It hit me like a tonne of bricks. Did I know it? Yes! But I’ve never lived in a world where we have not been affected by sin.

I’ve planted Prosso millet into a Canadian thistle infested field. I’ve pulled weeds in the garden.

We’ve all seen the effects of sin. We don’t have to watch the news for long before we see the results of sin. It all started with the serpent deceiving Eve. The serpent asked the question, “Did God really say?”

This all starts in Genesis 3. It near the beginning of the Bible, and we get to the last chapter of the book of Revelation, and the curse is taken away once and for all.

That should bring praise to each of our lips.

As Christians we are no longer under the curse of the law even though we live in a world that is still under the curse.

Galatians 3:10–14 NIV

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Right now we look forward to a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. We live in expectation that one day everything will be made new.

In Revelation 22, it happens. There is no longer any curse. The tree of life will grow on each side of the river flowing from the throne of God and the lamb. We will eat from its fruit meaning that we will live forever in the presence of God.

God Himself will be the light for the city. There will be no night there. We won’t have the effects of sin: sorrow, pain, or death. We won’t need our 3 o’clock coffee because we won’t grow weary.

As we close, I’d like to close with 1 John 3:1-3

1 John 3:1–3 NIV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Let’s pray!