Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 6, 2016
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 21:1
Rita and I like to create fun and interesting family gatherings, so our children and grandchildren can’t wait to get together. Easter is one of those top two or three times throughout the year, we as a family celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at church in worshipful celebration and at our home with a feast and fun activities. One tradition is an Easter egg hunt, but not normal eggs—they are plastic with money inside—one golden egg has $50! The coined eggs are within eyesight, but the dollar filled pastel ovals are hidden. After many hints from “Pop,” the golden egg mystery is solved.
The apostle John describes a new heaven and a new earth devoid of any sea. What does he mean by there was no longer any sea? The sea may be his reference to a symbol of the unknown, a mystery on earth that struck fear in mostly land hugging Jews who saw the sea as an untamed, raging force which could destroy, even kill. Like the distant horizon we only see the mystery of God through dimmed, human limitations. But a new, grander elevation of wisdom accompanies those who go to be with the Lord. In heaven the mystery of God is solved by being with God.
“I am going to tell you a mystery—something you may have trouble understanding: we will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be transformed. It will all happen so fast, in a blink, a mere flutter of the eye. The last trumpet will call, and the dead will be raised from their graves with a body that does not, cannot decay. All of us will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Voice)!
Some days you may feel more like a detective than a disciple. The clues of God’s will are not clear and Christ’s heart seems distant and uninterested in your challenging situation. And there will be some mysterious questions we will not know the answers to until we get to heaven. Questions like, Why did my godly friend die so young with such a large, loving family left behind? What exactly are eternal rewards? How does the Trinity love one another? Why does Jesus come to earth twice? Why did Jesus and why do Christians suffer deep pain?
Even the most devoted followers of Jesus do not have 20/20 vision into our mysterious God—this is what makes Him God, and not us. We can be comfortable with the unknown, because we are the creature, not the Creator. The mystery of the Lord, the church and the gospel has already been solved, though we still wait for eternal understanding. The Holy Spirit shows us just what we need to know, just in time. If we knew too much, too soon—we might become proud or lazy in our faith. In the meantime, we investigate and trust Christ—God’s best clue to divine mystery.
“He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ” (Ephesians 1:9-10).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is so much I don’t understand about You, but what I do understand: Your love, grace, acceptance, holiness and forgiveness—I embrace and celebrate.Application
What about God is a head scratcher that I need to leave in His hands and trust He knows what’s best for me and others?Related Reading
Isaiah 48:6; Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3-6; Colossians 1:26; 1 Timothy 3:16Post/Tweet today
Even the most devoted followers of Jesus do not have 20/20 vision into our mysterious God—this is what makes Him God, and not us. #WisdomHunters #mysteriousGodWorship Resource
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