“And the City had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof” (Revelation 21:23).

The bright lights of a City bring a glory to it. Entering New York City on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at night in my youth and seeing the lights of the City brought forth the exclamation, “Glorious”! There is a glory to bright lights and big cities. There is a great attraction to it that can also, unfortunately, be a snare, if we are not on our guard.

The devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness with the offer of “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to Him, all this power will I give Thee and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it. If You, therefore, will worship me, all shall be Yours” (Luke 4:5-7).

Many have been enticed and have taken the devil’s offer of power and glory and have become ensnared. Their greed and addiction for vain glory lead to corruption, ruin, misery and heartbreak. That is where the earthly desire for the glory of man always leads.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem is different. The New Jerusalem is not of the earth. The New Jerusalem “comes down from God out of Heaven.” The New Jerusalem is a “Holy City.” The New Jerusalem is “as a Bride adorned for Her Husband” (Revelation 21:2). It is not of the first creation, so there is no need for the sun and the moon for light. It is of the new creation and the Glory of God shines forth and the Lamb is it’s Light.

For too many leaders today, the lust for power and glory is like that attraction of the bright lights of that big city. The devil is always making the offer, and too many take him up on it, selling their souls, for the vain glory of the earthly realm. Jesus had a different perspective. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan; for it is written, ‘thou shalt worship the LORD, thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve'” (Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13).

The beauty of the Bright Light and the Big City of God is there is no sin there. Indeed, it is a “Holy City.” There is a purity there, an adorning of righteousness. There is an absence of anything that causes a lie. There is only Truth, Beauty, Love and Goodness there. The Lamb is the Light, and His Light enlightens everyone to His Nature, His Virtue, His Kindness, Gentleness, and Faithfulness to the Father’s Heart.

Abraham looked and sought diligently for the City of God (see Hebrews 11:10). He fervently pursued it by faith and believed the promises of God to inherit it. Are you of the faith of Abraham? Are you looking for that City “which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”? If you love Bright Lights and you love a Big City, you will really love the New Jerusalem. And when you see it, you will shout, “Glorious! Glorious! Glorious! with exuberance, excitement and everlasting joy. Worthy is the Lamb!