"He made man's soul to be His own City and His dwelling-place: which is most pleasing to Him of all His works. And what time that man was fallen into sorrow and pain, he was not all seemly to serve in that noble office; and therefore our Lord Father would prepare Himself no other place, but would sit upon the earth abiding mankind, which is mingled with earth, till what time by His grace His dearworthy Son had brought again His City into the noble fairness with His hard travail."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 51)
Humanity has always been God's favorite dwelling place, the place He most wants to be. We have lost sight of that and not realized our value or the great purpose God had for us to just be His home, radiant with His glory. But God never lost sight of this! Christ came to bring the royal city of God back to its true radiance in all its glory. Now through Christ's work in the incarnation, death and resurrection, that vision of God for us is realized. We are the royal city of God, the seat of His throne. His glory radiates out from within us through His Spirit. Death is defeated, tears are wiped away, sorrow and pain are done away. God's dwelling is with humanity not just in essence or spirit but also in earthly human experience. In God's eternal view, this is fact and reality, something already true for us. We are simply becoming more and more aware of what Christ has already done, of God already dwelling within us, of the victory over sin and death that is already accomplished. Heaven has been brought to earth, and it's within us. It will manifest more and more till all see the glory of the Lord here on earth, in His beloved humanity!
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Isaiah 40:5 (KJV)
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride dressed in beauty for her husband. Then I heard a great voice from the throne crying, “See! The home of God is with men, and he will live among them. They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more, and never again shall there be sorrow or crying or pain. For all those former things are past and gone.”
Revelation 21:2-4 (PHILLIPS)
A Prayer: I am radiant with Your glory that shines from Your presence within me!