"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" (Revelation 21:1-2). Richard Baukham is a great writer on Revelation, who says its pictures are important for us to internalise. They purify and give us a Christian imagination. They give us a picture of what we're to really live for in the midst of a world that bombards us with alternative images, slogans and adverts. Revelation assures us of the Christian's future home, which isn't a place far away in the clouds strumming a harp with the angels. God has not given up His purposes for creation. Sin has not defeated Him or consigned this creation to the rubbish bin. Rather the resurrection of Jesus from the dead shows us that redemption deals with bodies as well as souls; Jesus was raised physically as a sign and the firstfruits of the coming new creation. His redemptive work reaches as far as the curse is found and will not allow sin to be victorious in this present world. One day, this entire creation is going to be judged with fire (more often than not fire being a picture of purification than destruction) and transformed and reshaped to become the new creation. John's word "new" here can be read as refurbished new, rather than replacement new. Heaven will be joined with earth in this new creation, it will literally be heaven on earth. The sea is no more - but this only means the symbol of chaos, confusion, and the place associated with evil in the prophets. In the new creation these things will be no more. Rather we have all eternity to enjoy the love of God, delighting as His people, exploring His creation, and worshipping Him as we were always meant to.
Praise God Today: "Endless Hallelujah"Pray Today:
- For God to be continuing to speak to us through the messages we heard preached on Sunday.
- For Malcolm and the community engagement ministries as they seek to connect with people in our community and build bridges into the life of the city, so we can be a blessing and reach people for Christ.
- For God to make us fruitful this week on our frontlines as we seek to live lives that bear the likeness of Christ, minister God's grace and love to others, and be messengers of Christ.
