Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The
Vision of New Jerusalem
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.
Revelation
refers to God’s deliberate manifestation of His character, his mysteries and
plans. Ch 21 reveals the descent of the bride and New Jerusalem. Early
Christianity knew of both an earthly and heavenly Jerusalem. V. 2 speaks of
“the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming out of heaven from God.” Speculation
concerning God’s future kingdom, on earth with Jerusalem as its center
dominated Christian eschatology in the beginning times. The New Jerusalem
signifies the manifestation of the divine presence. All things are made new.
More and fuller life is the result. Goodness, truth and beauty are the three
eternal values that belong to the life of the Spirit.
We
have looked toward the Bible’s land of promise for us. We
believe that Heaven exists. But we do not let its existence touch our lives or
settle into our souls. That means we are not sure about heaven. Our refusal to
take seriously God’s creative future locks us into the present, and temporary
problems look like they need permanent solutions. We lack patience for the work
the God of creation yet has to do. Longing for Heaven need not be an escapism
or coping device. It can be the acceptance of a reality. Religious imagination,
may I assert, is no hallucination. Injustices and deprivations of earthly life
will be fully and forever corrected. In Heaven, we will be liberated for every
loss… We will find Heaven a place where the Lord’s Prayer is fulfilled, where
God’s name is Hallowed. Heaven is a place of fellowship and reunion.
The
Spanish royal court of arms used the title Ne plus ultra (There is no more
beyond here). After Columbus’ discovery of America someone quickly
amended it by dropping the Latin word Ne so that the inscription reads plus
ultra (There is more beyond).
When
John was to be shown the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven, he was carried
away to ‘a great and high mountain.’ Christ’s people are meant to have
the mountain view, the long view, the wide view, the really understanding view.
How can we keep the high altitude of vision? We must live near to the
Scriptures. We must love the place of prayer. Jesus loved us and washed us from
our sins in His own Blood. What shall we do to wash our sins away? Confess our
sins, repent of them, invite Jesus to come into our hearts and live in us.
Prayer: Lord we praise for the
hope of eternal life and heaven that takes us through amidst of all life
situations. Amen
Thought
for the day:
Hope of heaven gives a heavenly experience on earth
Dr.
Moni Varghese, MTC Greater Washington