Heb. 2:5 – It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
Rev. 21:5 – 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.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for the heart liberating-hope and recalibrating-peace of these passages. There is “a world to come” which will transform this broken world. The new heaven and new earth will be the best of Eden, and much, much more. Providence, not happenstance, rules. Beauty, not brokenness will prevail.
As your sons and daughters, you created us to know you intimately and fill the earth with your glory. But things went terribly awry. We spurned your love and wrote a different story for ourselves. Instead of wanting to make your name great, we wanted to make a name for ourselves. Instead of living as your beloved servants in the world, we became broken slaves to the world. But the story didn’t end there, hallelujah.
You are a God whose name is Redeemer and Restorer—a God rich in mercy and abounding in grace. You sent Jesus to be our substitute and Savior, our perfect righteousness and our perpetual Advocate, our reigning King and returning Lord. When he does return, the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your glory—evil eradicated and your family gathered.
Things are not as they appear to the natural eye. You are in absolute control, and you love us more than we can possibly imagine. We’re not waiting for “pie in the sky,” but for Jesus on the earth. He is presently making all things new, and he will finish the job. Faith, not fear; bold mission, not navel-gazing; generosity, not hoarding; kingdom living, not fretful pining, are the order of the day.
Father, thank you for making us characters in and carriers of your great Story of redemption and restoration. We are in Christ and on mission. Hallelujah! So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and trustworthy name.
