Restoration Hope
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.”Revelation 21:5
There are few verses in the Book of Revelation, no, make that in the whole Bible, that offer more encouragement and hope than Rev. 21:5. Take a good close look at what’s being affirmed in this one verse:
· There’s an occupied throne in heaven. God is “large and is in charge!” Random doesn’t reign, God does! “Accident” is not the defining word in our lives, “providence” is.
· Jesus is making all things new, NOT all new things. God’s story, the one grand narrative that unfolds from Genesis through Revelation, is a story of restoration, not replacement! God has not given up on his creation or his people. In the gospel, Jesus has signed on for the most incredible reclamation and renewal project imaginable.
· Jesus is making ALL, not some things new. There is not one thing God made in the first creation that will “go to waste.” I don’t know what a renewed animal kingdom will be like, or a renewed Swiss Alps, or renewed chocolate, or …. You fill in the blank. But I can hardly wait to see!
· Jesus says that he “is” not “will” make all things new!This grand project of gospel-restoration is already underway! We are not waiting for Jesus to come back so he can begin this longed for restoration, he is on the job right now! Though we may not be able to perceive very much yet, currently and presently, the kingdom of God is in our midst, bringing the firstfruits of the final restoration of all things. Of for eyes to see what God is up to everywhere!
· This promise of restoration is “trustworthy and true.” God is not hyping us but hoping us! We can take Jesus at his word, and therefore engage full bore in missional loving and living. To realize with in-the-gut-certainty that nothing can derail, slow down or alter God’s restoration plan for his world and his people means that our labors in the Lord are not, in the least bit, in vain! Hallelujah what a Savior! Hallelujah what a salvation!