Beautiful Light

A beautiful picture of sunlight shining through sequoia trees in Muir Woods.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, 
and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride 
beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

"Now the dwelling of God is with men,
and He will live with them.

They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death
or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said,
"I am making everything new!"
Then He said, "Write this down,
for these words are trustworthy and true."

- Revelation 21:1-5



I did not see a temple in the city,
because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are its temple.

The city does not need the sun
or the moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gives it light,
and the Lamb is its lamp.

The nations will walk by its light,
and the kings of the earth
will bring their splendor into it.

On no day will its gates ever be shut,
for there will be no night there.

The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.

Nothing impure will ever enter it,
nor will anyone who does 
what is shameful or deceitful,
but only those whose names are written
in the Lamb's book of life.

- Revelation 21:22-27

It's a Sunday afternoon, the last day of the month.

I've been thinking a lot about heaven these past days. As I was sitting here in my room, suddenly this flashback floats into my consciousness...

I am 12 years old, and on the threshold of my thirteenth year in the mid 1960's. I am on my bed, saying my bedtime prayers. I hear myself asking God a few questions:


God, if you really are the God I believe in, I want to know You more.

I want You to show me if the things I believe in are true.

I ask You to show me the truth.

Please, God, somehow I feel that there is something lacking in my understanding, but I don't know where to get the answers...or if there is even someone who knows the answers to my questions.

Before I go any further, let me make some things clear. I was not a heretic, and I certainly was not about to turn my back on my religious upbringing.

But even as a young girl, I was hungry for God, and would even go to bed with my Missal, my Book of Prayers, my precious collection of stampitas - lovely gilt edged picture cards of Jesus, Mama Mary, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Peter, St. Christopher, and many other saints - under my pillow.

I would often pray, asking Jesus to help me be a good girl, and help me keep my heart pure.

My frustration was that it always seemed so easy to fall into sin. Nothing major - a cross look, a lie, an unkind thought... nevertheless, I knew it was sin.

It seemed like I was never good enough, that my actions were always being weighed, and somehow, they always fell short.

If someone asked me what my idea of God was back then, here's my reply: to me He was like a tally-keeper up in heaven...some kind of a heavenly policeman.

However, those thoughts did not really bother me so much. As I progressed into my teen years, those questions got pushed underneath. After all I was just so busy with more exciting things, like school, friends, weekend parties and going out on dates...

I was enjoying life... the way any normal teenager would enjoy life.

And my growing up years were memorable, happy ones. I came from a small family where our parents faithfully looked after me and my sister's well-being; we were loved, we were nurtured, we were valued, and appreciated. Our needs were met. We celebrated birthdays, and anniversaries, graduation days, Christmas, New Year, Easter. I felt secure and confident in my parents' love.

It was only when I was a freshman at the University of the Philippines that those questions re-surfaced, and the answers came...in a miraculous way.

To be honest, I had actually forgotten those questions.

But God did honor my desire, after all, and revealed Himself to me, when I least expected Him to.

And that was the best thing that ever happened to me - when I began to understand that my going to heaven was not something that I had to work for, or earn.

For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God— not by works,
so that no one can boast.

- Ephesians 2:8-9

Thus began a long journey of soul searching... studying the Bible, knowing that this Book was written by men under the inspiration of the God the Holy Spirit, and could therefore be trusted.

After a long period of evaluating and carefully looking at the evidences of the Scripture, accompanied by much prayer for enlightenment, the day came when I could hold back no longer.

I couldn't be a fence sitter, wavering between two opinions. I knew I had to turn the reins of my life over to the One who created me, my God, my King, my Redeemer. (Part of this story is found in a previous post entitled Face to Face.)

As soon as that decision was made, it felt like a heavy burden was lifted off my back. It was the beginning of my spiritual journey, an exciting journey of knowing what God my Father was really like, and a brand new life of freedom and grace!

There may have been many rough roads on this journey, but the light of a million mornings has dawned in me...

Definitely, there is no turning back!

The song below by Sandi Patty could very well have been my own!

Little did I know that the name my parents gave me, Lidia, literally means "Beautiful Light."

Finding this out about ten years ago was a major turning point in my life. Knowing the spiritual connotation of my name connected me at heart level to my God-given identity and kingdom purpose! 

It enabled me to fully embrace my calling as a worshiper of God, fueling my upward journey toward heaven, seeking God's heart, desiring to know Him more.


This has been truly a beautiful month, the first month of the year of breakthrough. I thank God for that flashback because it confirms that He wants me to think about my eternal destination, where this journey that I am on will someday end!

Yes, heaven will always be a subject that is very special to my heart... mostly because I know that it is the place where those who are called children of God will live forever, the happy ending to their life story, the place where we will live happily ever after!

It is where I will see God face to face!

It is the place where the light of a million mornings will shine for all eternity!


As I end this post, I end it with this prayer for my beloved blog friends:

May this powerful song touch your heart today...

bring light into your darkness ...

speak hope into your doubts ...

and give answers for some of your unspoken questions. 


With much love and thanksgiving for each one of you, 
Lidj

Light of a Million Mornings
sung by Sandi Patty from the CD Everlasting Light 
produced by Claire Cloninger and Mark Hayes


I couldn't see the sunshine through the shadows 
I couldn't seem to find a soul to care 
And in my darkest hour 
You touched me with Your power 
And when I looked Your light 
Was everywhere 

The light of a million mornings filled my heart 
The sound of a million angels sang my song 
The warmth of a love so tender 
Touched my life and suddenly 
The light of a million mornings dawned in me   

I've never tried to understand the sunrise 
I only know it takes away the dark 
I can't explain Your healing 
or all the joy I'm feeling 
I only know You've come into my heart   

(repeat refrain)   

bridge: 
And now that Your glory 
Has come shining through
Let my life be a candle, Lord 
That shines for You, 
Shines for You 
Shines for You... 

The light of a million mornings filled my heart 
The sound of a million angels sang my song 
The warmth of a love so tender 
Touched my life and suddenly 
The light of a million mornings... 
The light of a million mornings... 
The light of a million mornings has dawned in me

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

- John 3:16