Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth…I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people…‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:1a, 2-3a, 4-5a)
On Earth As It Is In Heaven
Apr 24, 2018
As we near the end of our exploration of the biblical narrative of work, we come to the climax of Scripture: the marriage of heaven and earth and the establishment of the eternal Kingdom of God.
Yesterday, we saw that while Jesus inaugurated his kingdom on Easter, he didn’t bring the kingdom to earth all at once. He gave his bride, the Church, the privilege of helping him build his kingdom.
Today’s passage previews our promised consummation—the joining together of the work we have been doing to prepare for the kingdom and the work that Christ has been doing in heaven in preparation for bringing heaven to its ultimate resting place: the New Earth.
What does this mean for our work? It means that while our work today can certainly be a means of building for the kingdom, God alone will complete his kingdom-building project. That truth should both humble us and give us hope. If the things on our to-do lists are on God’s to-do list, he will complete them in the end.
