The Twelve Foundation Stones of the City Wall of New Jerusalem (2)
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March 08, 2009 |
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 "The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst." (Revelation 21:19-20)
The twelve foundation stones of the city wall of New Jerusalem are made of twelve different gem stones. The heart that is the composite of the spiritual meanings embedded in each of the gemstones is the heart of God and the Lord, which is perfect love. The last issue explained the meanings embedded in the first two foundation stones, jasper and sapphire. This time we will examine the meanings embedded in the third, fourth and fifth foundation stones.
1. The Third Foundation Stone is Chalcedony
The spiritual heart that is represented by chalcedony are the characters of purity and sacrificial love. Chalcedony represents the spiritual heart that is purity and sacrificial love. To be pure of heart is to have actions and deeds that are clean and free of spot or blemish and having no fault. That is the state of being pure is the state of having the actions and condition of a clean and unsoiled heart that has no faults. Possessing this 'purity of the heart,' one should be able to be self-sacrificing. This is the heart of spirit contained in chalcedony. Of course, this is not the self-sacrificing character for the fleshly and perishing things. It is the self-sacrifice for the kingdom and righteousness of God. Let's delve into sacrificial love in a little more detail here.
Sacrificial love is the love that can give up everything for the kingdom of God and not expect anything in return. We are satisfied just with the giving and don't have any lingering attachments to what has been given. We just give all. On the other hand, in the case of fleshly love something comparable is usually desired in return for what was sacrificed. However, if what is received in return is less than what was expected, a feeling of disappointment may result. Resentment or even hatred may even develop towards someone who wasn't sensitive enough to return the sacrifice that was given. If we are truly self-sacrificing for others, we will give up everything within the truth, and not want anything in return.
Let me give you the example of Ruth. Ruth was not an Israelite. She lived in Moab. She married the son of Naomi, who went there to escape the famine in Israel. Naomi had two sons, and both of them married Moabite women. But both of her two sons died. Under these conditions, when Naomi heard the famine in Israel was over, she wanted to go back to Israel. Naomi suggested to her daughters-in-law that they should stay in Moab, their homeland. But Ruth insisted on following her mother-in-law. If Ruth had not had sacrificial love, she couldn't have done it. It means Ruth's sacrificial love did not just come from her sense of duty. It was spiritual love that came from her faith in God. Finally, Ruth received many blessings through Boaz, who was her kinsman-redeemer from among the relatives of her mother-in-law.
Many people think that, if they humble and sacrifice themselves, their value will be lowered too. Finally, Ruth received many blessings through Boaz. Many people think that, if they humble and sacrifice themselves, their value will be lowered, too. But those who sacrifice themselves without any selfish motives and with a pure heart will have the sacrifices revealed before God and the people. Their goodness and love will shine for all others to see as spiritual lights.
2. The Fourth Foundation Stone Is Emerald
Emerald is a gem-stone that gives out greenish light. The spiritual heart that is represented by emerald is the qualities of righteousness, clarity, justness and cleanness. It is the same as the color of the fruit of the Light in Ephesians 5:9. The color of the harmony of 'all goodness and righteousness and truth', is the same color as the spiritual light of emerald. Only when we possess all of the characters of goodness, righteousness and truth can we have true righteousness in the sight of God. It cannot be only goodness without righteousness or just righteousness without goodness.
In the Bible, who showed the light of true righteousness in harmony of goodness, righteousness, and truthfulness. David is one of them. David was the second king of Israel. He succeeded Saul as king. When people showed their love for David, Saul tried to kill David out of his jealousy. One time, David had a very good chance to kill Saul. The warriors who were with David and wanted to kill Saul as well, but David stopped them from killing him. Even though Saul had been forsaken by God, David could not hurt Saul because Saul had been anointed as the king by God. God recognized this heart of David to be righteous.
This righteousness was displayed together with touching goodness. He did not repay evil for evil, but only repaid it with good words and good deeds. As a result, when similar situations took place later, David could act in the same way. But, if David had killed Saul when he first had the chance could he have avoided so much suffering and could he have become the king of Israel sooner? Of course he could have, but the problem would have been the trust relation with God. Even if we have to go through more sufferings and difficulties in life, we should have the heart to choose the righteousness of God.
Once God recognizes a person to be righteous, the level of God's guaranteeing us will be different. David did not kill Saul. Saul was killed at the hand of Gentiles. As God had attested him, David became the king of Israel.
Esther also had a just and pure heart with which God is pleased. She became the queen of Persia as a Jew. Additionally, because of a wicked plan conceived by a minister of Persia named Haman, the entire nation of Jews was in danger of being exterminated. In this situation, Esther did not just keep quiet thinking that danger might come upon her. She did not try to become the sole survivor.
She fasted for three days for the salvation of her people. Then, relying on God, she boldly went before the king. The Jews not only escaped from the danger of extermination, but they were allowed to kill Haman and their enemies.
If we do not forsake our righteousness even though we may lose everything, God will never forsake us either. But many people cannot pass beyond this moment, and that is why they cannot receive great blessings or answers. If they have some disadvantageous situations, they quickly change their mind. Their decision to keep their righteousness becomes weaker, and they compromise, and even follow after unrighteous ways.
Those children of God who are longing for New Jerusalem should never stand in the same way that sinners stand. They must not follow the wisdom of the wicked for their own benefits.
3. The Fifth Foundation Stone is Sardonyx
The spiritual heart of sardonyx symbolizes the character of 'hardworking faithfulness'. If we just do what we are supposed to do, it cannot be said that we are faithful. We can say we are faithful when we do more than what we are supposed to do. You should accomplish not just the work entrusted to you, but also try to do things that were not originally given to you with all your heart and mind. Only then one can say that you are faithful. The kind of hardworking faithfulness recognized by God is to do your duty with all your heart, mind, soul, and life.
To have this kind of spiritual faithfulness, we should first have a righteous heart. We should desire for the kingdom of God to be enlarged, for the church to have revival and growth, for the workplace to be prosperous, and for our families to be happy. If we do not just seek our own, but desire for others and the community to be prosperous, this is to have a righteous heart. To be faithful, along with having this righteous heart, we should have a sacrificial heart. If we just think, "The most important thing is my prosperity, not whether or not the church is growing up," we will probably not sacrifice for the church.
Those who are good of heart will not incline toward just one side or the other. If we have neglected a certain point, we will not be comfortable about it if we have goodness of heart. The magnitude of this kind of attitude will be different according to the magnitude of goodness you have. If you have only a little goodness, you will not even really care very much about the others. Maybe you will have some concern, but you'll tend to just forget about it. But if you have a greater goodness, you will not just ignore it when something causes your heart to become discomforted. You know what kind of acts are acts of goodness, and if you are not accomplishing that goodness, it is difficult for you to bear it. You will have peace only when you do show good deeds in acts of goodness. An evil man can be at peace only after he acts out his evil. In the same way, a good man can be at peace when he acts in goodness. So, those who are good in heart can naturally be faithful in all God's house.
In Numbers 12:7 God said this about Moses, "Not so, with My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My household." The duty that Moses received from God was to guide the Israelites who were under slavery in Egypt, into the land of Canaan. Just counting the male adults there were 600,000. But if you were to include children, elderly people, and women, the number was well over 2 million. This many people were just like little children.
They constantly complained to Moses, and sometimes even rebelled against him. Nevertheless, Moses guided them until the end with faith and love.
The people once committed a great sin and God was going to punish all of them and raise up another nation through the descendants of Moses. But Moses repented before God and asked for the forgiveness for his people as if he himself had committed the sin. To save the people, he prayed and offered up his life in exchange for the lives of his people.
Moses worked with all his heart, mind, and soul, and could even give his life to fulfill his duty. God shows this faithful heart through the color of sardonyx.
The sixth foundation stone is sardius, which is also called "carnelian" will be explained in the next issue.
Dear brothers and sisters,
God wants His children to understand well the spiritual meaning of each of the twelve foundation gem stones found on the city wall of New Jerusalem and to have true faith. May you accomplish the heart of spirit embedded in each gem-stone and shine the light of your beautiful spirit, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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