RENEWAL/RESTORATION
Yesterday, we focused our attention on Jesus’ death and resurrection—which secures salvation for us personally, us as a community, and even the whole Cosmos!
Today, we utilize the prophetic/future proclamation of scripture in order to know more completely what direction we are headed with Jesus. In the future…
3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3–5 (NLT)
It is key to understand that there are no indications in scripture that these things will take place in a far off heaven, but that God is remaking earth, and that we will reign with him. Earth will be remade and redone, and we will take our place as stewards with him again.
The best news is that we don’t have to wait until later to steward this world. As we learn the way of Jesus for every area of life, we are returning the world and all relationships back to the way we were created to be. Every relationship that is healed through forgiveness, every time we refrain from evil thoughts, every time we serve another rather than lord over them, and every time we turn the other cheek and refuse to curse our enemies, but bless them—we are bringing bits of love back into the world. Whenever we stand up for justice and side with the oppressed and marginalized, we are slathering love in this world. When we marvel at creation and cultivate it, we are partnering with God’s intentions for life and beauty. When we refrain from war and violence and retribution, we are making progress against the devil and his schemes to destroy God’s good creation.
So, today, don’t think of heaven as far off, but rather think about bringing some of heaven to your family and to your neighbors and to your workplace. Jesus has sent us into this world that he created. And, as we allow him to—he fills us with His Spirit and equips us to renew the world with love.
Prayer
Make this prayer your own:
Lord, help me today to bring your heaven here to earth. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I might work with you to reverse the ills of this world. Make me humble before the weak and give me courage in the face of the strong. Give me grace to endure the anger of this world and I ask for peace to guide me. Amen.