阅读经文 

从阿巴拉契亚山道长途徒步回家后，我仍然坚持每天散步。现在我在城市的人行道上散步，在那里我经常遇到推着婴儿车或遛狗的邻居。

《圣经》中最后的场景描绘了一座城的生活，在那里神与我们同在，并带来所有的光明。这城也有“生命水的河”和医治万民的生命树。

在神完成祂创世的杰作后不久，我们人类的祖先便违背了神的旨意，使这个世界陷入了苦难。从那悲惨的时刻起，《圣经》记录了罪所带来的可悲的后果。与此同时，值得庆幸的是，我们看到神的救恩计划正在展开，尽管还存在一些反对势力。

最后，在《启示录》中，我们看到在一座城里，生命得以恢复和更新。但这不是一座普通的城。它不需要日头的光辉，因为神的荣耀光照它，列国都靠这光而行。耶稣已经完全胜过了罪。神的儿女在这里自由地生活、工作、嬉戏，就像神为我们预备的伊甸园一样，生命茁壮成长。

如果没有这座位于人类历史隧道尽头的光明之城，我们很容易在绝望中放弃。带着盼望走向神的应许，需要信心。就像在我们之前的无数信徒一样，我们需要以忠心来行事，以信靠的心来服侍神。

After returning home from my long hike on the Appalachian Trail, I still walk every day. Now my walks are on city sidewalks, where I frequently meet neighbors pushing strollers and walking dogs.

The final scenes in the Bible portray life in a city where God lives with us and provides all its light. This city also includes “the river of the water of life” and the tree of life for healing the nations.

Soon after God completed his masterpiece of creation, our human parents disobeyed and plunged this world into misery. From that tragic moment on, the Bible records the depressing consequences of sin. At the same time, thankfully, we see God’s salvation plan unfolding, despite the forces aligned against it.

Finally, in Revelation, we see life restored and made new in a city. But this is no ordinary city. The sun is not needed——God’s glory gives it light, and the nations walk by this light. Jesus has completely conquered sin. God’s children freely live and work and play here, flourishing in full life as God intends for us.

Without this city of light at the end of the tunnel of human history, we could easily be tempted to give up in despair. It takes faith to keep walking with hope toward what God has promised. Like the countless believers who have gone before us, we need to walk faithfully, trusting God as we serve him.