The New Heaven and Earth
(Rev 21:1-8)
One of our church members confessed that heavenly citizenship is more precious than USA citizenship, which resonates with us. After all the trials, Jesus second coming, and his judgment of the white throne, the new heaven and earth comes to us. What is the new heaven and earth like?
1. Its the kingdom where our first heaven and earth disappeared. Kampalphaampiotaampnuόampsigmaf the Greek word of new in 'the new heaven and earth' means a qualitative difference instead of mere chronological newness. This implies that God will make a new heaven and earth that weve never experienced after burning out the old heaven and earth polluted by men. This is a renewal rather than a total extinction. Everything on earth is a training device for me. All that Ive yearned or feared will disappear when Im changed into a being of integrity. As in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is nothing new under the sun, which isnt a circular view of history. Sinful human nature ever repeats. Thats why God gives us the plagues of seals, trumpets, and bowls, urging us to repent for the remainder of us to grow. We fail to enjoy a blessed life not because of the lack of money, but because of our sins. Seeing our sins is greater than reviving a soul. It is like conquering an impregnable fort in the toughest war. The new heaven and earth is where we see our sins. We need to make an application of being dead in obedience to our holiness because God is holy. The one person in any community who sees his sins, accepts his weaknesses, and serves others is the dweller of the new heaven and earth, who has passed through the war of God and Magog.
2. Its the kingdom dressed in its spiritual community.
1) Its a spiritual community that shares the same word of God. Without the community of the Word, we cant see our sins. The new heaven and earth is far from worldly values. Without meditating on godly values every day, we will see the kingdom slip out of our grasp after nearly having caught it. Therefore, we need to pray to God and share with others through the Word weve seen and listened to. David tried to carry the ark of covenant on a cart accompanied by thirty thousand men without recognizing his sins, which caused Uzzahs death. Chapter 4 of Numbers gives an answer to this incomprehensible incident. Lots of Wooridle Church members have revived from their incomprehensible incidents after listening to the Word and repenting of their sins. Thus the new heaven and earth is a spiritual community that shares the Word. God is pleased with a community that cherishes even a stroke of the Word rather than its splendid and bombastic events. The act of listening to the Word may seem to be ridiculous, but it enables us to face uncontrollable incidents under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, make a point of being guided by the Word like a child!
2) Its a spiritual community where God dwells. This new city of Jerusalem is a new community where God wells with us. We enjoy our life regardless of circumstances as we dwell in the same community ruled by the same Word, watching our worldly fear and envy disappear. The beauty of a bride comes from her expectation of her bridegroom, not from her make-up. Thus the matter of Gods kingdom is not about circumstances but about relationship. The secret of enjoying the blessing of the new heaven and earth is confessing our sins to God and dwelling in His place. Yet, people outside this community cant enjoy it because they are bent on conquest and self-interest. The feature of Gods kingdom is consideration. However, the blind consideration without recognizing our sins is a sin, too. Even our endurance, if its not for God, is a self-interested action. Everything is meaningless without God because He is the only one who allows us to enter the new Jerusalem. Recognizing this grace is the best make-up for us Christians, the brides of Christ. Just as parents are pleased with their kids harmonious relationships, so is our Lord with our friendly relationships in our church, which is a visualization of Gods kingdom on earth and the best make-up for Christians. The treasured virtues in Gods community are gentleness and patience.
3. Its the kingdom whose people have tears to be wiped. The ticket to the new heaven and earth is our tears to be wiped by God. They are not the tears of regret but of our mission that we shed on earth. The Bible puts more focus on the cross than the crown. Its because God knows our weakness He wants us to be spiritually armed. David, the king of the united Israel was able to enter the new heaven and earth after his watershed repentance, guided by Nathans rebuke, of his great sin of killing Uriah. Still, however, there is the new heaven and earth that we should reach after our death. None of us can be self-satisfied with their cleanness that they think theyve earned through repentance. Notice the testimony of a 4th-grade Christian child of our church. The child has prayed everyday for her run-away mother, relying on Gods grace through her daily QT and prayer as David did in his hardships. As we see through the childs sharing, divorce should be the last thing we do. A life without problems is itself a problematic life while a life with problems is a blessed one. May God bless us all to enjoy the new heaven and earth in our recovered family through the Word!
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. (Rev 21:1)
