Isaiah 2:2-4
Psalm 22:27-28
Luke 3:23-38
Romans 9:22-26
1 John 3:1-2
Revelation 21:22-27
Revelation 22
Hebrews 11:39-40
Revelation 7:9-12
When we started this lesson by discussing soap operas, I'm sure none of us knew where this was going!! 😂😂 There are a few "good" people on soap operas, but most of them are cut-throat, vicious, ruthless, merciless promise BREAKERS! We found over the last few weeks that drama is nothing new to the human race.
We have followed the shape of the hourglass from creation to a nation to a house to a Person to a house to a nation. God made steadfast, loyal, unwavering, faithful, loving covenants at each level. Promise Maker and Promise Keeper. We found at every level cut-throat, vicious, ruthless, merciless promise breakers. While Yahweh holds all things up and Jesus holds all things together, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Part of the New Better Everlasting covenant, written and underwritten by Jesus, involves a culmination, the "end point or final stage of something you've been working toward or something that's been building up." It's the opposite bookend of creation on a bookshelf that stores all of human history--beginning to end. It's already written, it just needs to "play out" to its conclusion. Isaiah tells of a latter day when the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains and the nations shall flow to it. King David sings of a time when all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before Him.
In Luke 3, we see some famous names in the genealogy of Jesus Christ...David, Abraham, Noah, Adam...who were covenant partners with Yahweh, joined together for a common goal. They all failed in some way, but God didn't. The Promised One came to save them and us from our sins. Not just From our sins but To Him. 💓 In Hebrews 11--famously called the "Hall of Faith"--we see many of the same people and more who are called faithful. But if we look back on their lives, we see so many shortcomings!! He chose the lives of sinful people, then and now, as a scene on which the riches of His glory and mercy can be displayed. Those who are followers of Christ have entered into a covenant with Him, and we are adopted as the children of God. What great love He has poured out on us that we should be so called. At the culmination, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. Do you see the shadow of Eden? This is what we were created for. To be in fellowship with Yahweh through Jesus. Adam and Eve broke covenant by going ahead of God; Abraham and Sarah broke covenant by going ahead of God. But God is always faithful even when we are not because He has sworn by His own name.
As John is seeing visions of the culmination of all things he, like Isaiah and King David, sees the nations walking by the light. But it's not the sun or the moon--its the glory of God and the Lamb is the lamp. Only those whose names are written in the book of life shall enter. In the center is the throne of God and of the Lamb; the leaves of the trees of life will heal the nations and there will no longer be any curse. Jesus Himself has sent these words as hope for the churches. He is the covenants fulfilled. He has called the nations--Abraham and forever; He sits on the throne of David, the only One who qualifies; He is the covenant husband of His bride, the Church. And through the Holy Spirit, His church has invited the nations to come. If you are thirsty, come; take the water of life freely.
Those who were in the Hall of Faith (and others, (of whom the world was not worthy) looked forward to what was promised but they didn't see it come true in their lifetimes. They saw the mercy and goodness of God and they lived by it. But they didn't see Messiah. The disciples did, and through their testimony, we do. Those who are saved--who pledge allegiance to Jesus--are ordinary, sinful people who agree to be a screen on which Jesus Christ can project His steadfast love, grace, and mercy. We are His church, His house, meant to draw the nations to Him. And we complete the circle together with our brothers and sisters in the faith-- from creation to culmination. Like sands through an hourglass--"Our times are in His hands." Psalm 31:15
"After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!!' All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
<clickable link below>
No comments:
Post a Comment