Revelation 22:1-7

22 Then the angel^[a] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life^[b] with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; ⁴ they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

⁶ And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

⁷ “See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”

The biblical story often includes food. Genesis tells of Adam and Eve being placed in a garden. The people of God were fed with manna and quail during their 40-year wanderings in the wilderness. The disciples broke bread with Jesus on the night before His death. And then at the end, in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, in Revelation chapter 22, we find some low hanging fruit.

As John is given a revelation of life in the Kingdom of God, the river of the water of life flows from the throne of God, right through the middle of the holy city, and its bank are lined with fruit trees. And there are twelve kinds of fruits, one for each month of the year. The bounty of God continues year-round.

Prayer

Wonderful God, remind us again and again and again of your generous care for us. Show us how each day is harvest time, and how your grace is as fresh as the fruit we crave. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.