Thursday, March 18, 2010

March 18, 2010

“At that time, after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven." Mark 13:24-27 (NLT)

This portion of Jesus’ prophecy appears to describle the end of the world as we know it. Remember, destruction does not mean elimination. The whole purpose of Jesus’ return in power is to remove all evil and renew all things. Jesus will renew the world and leave no thing untouched.

You may have assumed God will destroy this universe and relocate his children. But when God created the heavens and earth, he applauded his work (Genesis 1:31). God never denounced his earth, just man's mistreatment of it. Besides, he's the God of reclamation, not extermination. He restores, recovers, renews. Expect him to reclaim every square inch of what's rightfully his. (Matthew 19:28)

Although Scripture uses A-bomb terminology to promise earth's destruction: "disappear with a roar … destroyed by fire … laid bare … passed away" (2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1), destruction need not mean elimination.

Your body provides a prototype. It will return to dust. Yet the one who called Adam out of a dirt pile will reverse your decomposition with resurrection. Amino acids will regenerate. Molecules will reconnect. The mortal body will put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53 ).

The same is true about earth. The "whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22, NASB). Like a mother in labor, nature looks toward her delivery day. You see the birth pangs: floods, volcanoes, earthquakes. But God will cleanse and reconstruct his cosmos. And pristine purity will flow, as Eden promised.

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