New Heavens New Earth

Our walk through the prophets continues. Haggai proclaimed to the returned exiles that the latter glory - the glory that would come to the temple by God’s divine action - would be greater than the former glory of Solomon’s temple. That was saying something since Solomon’s edifice was one of the most impressive structures in decor and size. But the temple to come would be more than a building with impressive height and lavish appointments. In fact the complete fulfillment of the temple comes in Christ for one day in the New Jerusalem there will be no need for a temple for “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (Rev 21:22 and Luke 21:5-19). 


So, this Sunday when we hear the Prophet Isaiah proclaim that God will create “a new heavens and a new earth” our ears immediately perk up. Not only will the Almighty One undo all the devastation we read about in Lamentations in the fall of Jerusalem, but God will undo all the curse of the fall. The rampant brokenness that ravages God’s children day by day will one day fully undone, completely healed. So much so, that “the wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox….They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain” (Isa 65:25). This prophecy paints a picture of the perfect peace that is coming for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. I look forward to beholding the beauty of this new creation with you Sunday. 

But before we get to Christ the King Sunday, we will have a few Sundays previewing for us the ache of Advent, the longing which we experience as we are filled with the blessed hope of Christ’s return. This is a turn from the lament and ache of the Prophet Jeremiah as he predicted and reflected upon Jerusalem’s destruction, Judah’s exile, and the hope of a new covenant. But it’s not a sharp turn for we find that this same new covenant, this same return for exile is fully and finally in the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I hope to see you Sunday as we journey towards the end of one year marked in hope to begin the next aching and longing for our Savior.  

Jay+

As we behold the face of God in the face of Christ, we are transformed into his image. This is what it means to be fully human—to become like Jesus, the truly human one, and to grow more and more in the freedom of the children of God.