Come Up Here And See

When I think of the description of New Jerusalem that is found in Revelations 21 it is overwhelming for my punitive mind. For some people it might be the measurements of New Jerusalem, for some it might be the materials of the walls such as jasper, or the foundations stones of jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst, or the streets of gold. But for me it is the gates. Those twelve gates are twelve pearls and each one of the gates are a single pearl. Oh, my goodness, beautiful.

As I was thinking about those gates, each one being one pearl, that is a huge pearl. Pearls are formed by irritation. So that pearl went through irritation upon irritation upon irritation to form it.

• Revelation 21:21a NASB And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl.

Laurie L. Dove from howstuffworks writes:

• The formation of a natural pearl inside an oyster begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and shell, which irritates the mantle (thin layer of tissue that lines the inner part of the oyster’s shell). It’s kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster’s natural reaction is to cover up that irritant by encapsulating (enclose something in or as in a capsule, box, cover, enclose, wrap) the interloper, thereby protecting itself. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre (hard, iridescent substance that forms the inner layer of certain mollusk shells) substance that is used to create the shell, and these concentric layers of nacre will eventually form a pearl.

Oxford describes Irritation as:

• the state of feeling annoyed, impatient, or slightly angry. (Similar: displeasure, resentment, anger, rage, fury, temper, aggravation) “much to my irritation, Chris fell asleep”

• inflammation or other discomfort in a body part caused by reaction to an irritant substance.

                 “some chemicals cause a direct irritation to the skin leading to dermatitis

We can learn a great lesson from an oyster and the beautiful pearls that are formed from an irritant.  What do we do with an irritant? Do we have a temper tantrum, do we get annoyed, offended, impatient with the person and impatient with God because the irritation has not been taken away from our lives when we prayed or just complained?

Jesus promised us that we would have tribulations in this world but to take heart because of our place in Jesus.

• John 16:33 ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Peter told us that if we suffer as a Christian and suffering can be considered an irritant, he told us to glorify God.

• 1 Peter 4: 16 NKJV ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Each trial, every suffering, every displeasure in our lives is a test which could be considered an irritant that could make us more beautiful and unique like those pearl gates.  With that in mind I want to respond to each irritant as the Lord wants me to which is with an overcomer attitude so that I will inherit from the Lord all things that He has for me.

• 1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

• James 1:2-4 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• 1 Corinthians 10:10 NASB  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.

• Ephesians 4:29 -32 NASB  Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

• Romans 5:3-5 ESV Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

• Prov 15: 1 NASB A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

• Revelation 21: 6-7 NASB Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. ⁷ The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

I love pearls! When I dress up or dress down, I want to wear pearls. People at my church, no matter their age, know that I love pearls. Someone has given me the name “Pearl” and if I am not wearing pearls she will ask where the pearls are. One lady said to me about ten years ago or longer when I was wearing jeans, tall black boots, black sweater, and I was wearing long strand of pearls, “Lisa you are the only one that I know who wears pearls with their jeans.” Some women who no longer wear their pearls have given them as a gift to me and I am so grateful.

No matter how many strands of pearls that I am wearing at one time I think that each one of those pearls were made by an irritant. That thought takes me to asking the Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit how have I been with the irritants in my life? Have I been kind? Have I huffed and puffed with people or with You? Have I reacted to that irritant with anger, or have I responded with joy so that one day I will be mature and complete? Have I responded to that irritant, that suffering knowing that character will be developed to hope to eventually have God’s character in my life? Have I responded to that irritant with grace and mercy so that others can see the kindness of God? When I meditate about pearls and irritants this way, I feel like a mirror has been placed in front of me when I pray so that I am honest with the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, I thank You for showing me the beauty of pearls in a different way. Lord, I want to respond to every irritant in my life the way that You want me to so that I can be beautiful like a pearl. We give you permission Holy Spirit to show us how You see irritations so that we can pass the test and that the irritations in our lives would never be a waste but that they would produce endurance, character, hope, steadfastness, kindness, compassion, gracefulness, and mercy in our lives. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.