The Kingdom of the One
Who Makes Everything New
(Rev 21:1ampsim8)
In todays passage the new heaven and earth is specifically described as the kingdom where everything is made new, which only God can do. Lets see how God makes everything new and what the new kingdom is like.
1. God makes everything new through his faithful and truthful word. Everything belongs to God. The phrase 'making everything new' means more than perfect transformation. The core of Revelation is the cross and its supreme prophecy is the redemption history through the cross, the foundation of resurrection. Thus our new values makes our married life rewarding. God makes everything around us new through his renewing word whatever hardships we are in disease, divorce, remarriage, or any type of wounds. Thus the kingdom heals our wounds and restores our joy in the way that weve never imagined. Those whove experienced Gods creation through the Word accept the same message in a new perspective every day. So the theme of Genesis is the same as Revelation because the Bible is the story of redemption history.
2. Its the kingdom where everything is done by God, the Alpha and Omega. God, the creator of the universe will also make his last re-creation. The heavenly kingdom is given for nothing to those who yearn it. By recognizing that God not only begins everything but also puts an end to it, we can truly be grateful for his grace. Trusting the Word is being in the hands of our trustworthy Lord. When we regard the Word as the water of life for the thirsty or a honeycomb, we can step forward to others from just seeing our sins. Gods will is to be fulfilled. By recognizing that we are born sinners without exemption, we have nothing to complain in our problems. All we can do is just tear our clothes and mourn over our sins. Thus even in the midst of our tough situation, we can glorify God by revealing our shortcomings and sins.
3. Its the kingdom where we are trained to overcome our sinful nature every day. God lets us inherit everything when we do our exercise of overcoming complacency, envy, and jealousy. Yet heavenly kingdom is not something we can reach through our effort. Wrong-minded eschatologists are obsessed with a heavenly kingdom. Those who truly deserve the kingdom reveal their greed and boasting with honesty before God. In the Bible, there are many incidents that seem like failures. Through these failures, God constantly wants to be our God and wants us to be his children. God doesnt raise his people in an incubator void of war and suffering. As for us, we constantly need to prune ourselves for the new heaven and earth to come within us. We are far from being perfect without anything to boast of. We just live owing to the Word and our community.
4. Its the kingdom that excludes some people. God waits for those who are excluded in the kingdom to return. Who will be excluded? They are those who fear men rather than God. They are unbelievers. Fear prevents them from believing in and accepting the gospel. They are vile, self-centered, and boss others around. They are also murderers with unquenched hatred. They are sexually immoral. They are addicted to finding their comforters who please them in the midst of hardships like enchanters or fortune tellers. They seek fortunes tellers because they fear evil spirits. They are idol worshippers. In Gods place, they put money, power, children, school background, and sexual pleasure. They are all liars. They deny Christ. Heres a sharing from one of our assistant small group leaders. 'On hearing my daughters affairs, I fell into despair. I was too overwhelmed to see my sins because I didnt know the Word. The incident brought me to Wooridle Church, where our family stand firm in faith. Besides, my daughter stopped considering divorce and gave birth to two more children. Ive been unemployed for three years since I retired. In my small group, I was urged to find a job. So I found a job as a cleaner in a construction site. The sickening smell of urine bottles, which I had to clean, reminded me of the smell of my sins within me. I realized that my children had taken trouble for my salvation and my daughter especially had endured her hellish hardships. I simply thank God for her.' What a wonderful application of the renewing grace of God! I hope that we wont be one of those who are excluded from Gods kingdom. May God bless us to hold on tight to His name that makes us new and enter his kingdom!
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.' (Rev 21:5)
