Changing Times

 

This is the stop watch given to my father (pictured above) by his father.

"For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar -- the Lord of Hosts is his name. And I have put my words in your mouth, and his you in shadow of my hand, stretching out the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth..." -Isiaiah 51:15-16

This passage from the book of Isaiah speaks of the time when God, "stirred up the sea" and put His words in the mouth of his people.  It is a reference to the seminal event in Jewish history, the Exodus. Before Exodus and the "stirring" of the Red Sea, God's people were descendants of Abraham who were slaves in Egypt. They were a people with a calling, but they were not yet a nation.  It was during the Exodus that the nation of Israel was born.  God put his words in His people's mouths, set up the priestly class, established the sacrificial system, and gave plans for the the Ark of the Covenant which was eventually placed in the Temple in Jerusalem.  All of this is referred to in creation language, "stretching out the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth."

During this time of year, we often read about God creating a new heaves and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17 and 2 Peter 3:13). This is a refence to the seminal event of Christian history when Jesus rose from the tomb on the third day becoming our high priest (Hebrews 4:14) and final sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12), putting his words in our heart (Psalm 119:11), and making our bodies His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), and fulfilling the law on our behalf. (Matthew 5:17)

Therefore, when we read about the the heavens and earth being destroyed (e.g., 2 Peter 3:10), it is not a physicial destruction of the world, it is rather a destruction of the old way of relating to God. We are currently living in the time of the New Heavens and the New Earth. The old heavens and earth have already been destroyed. It is interesting to note that there is, to this day, no longer a temple in Jerusalem.

And it is important for us as Christians to know this truth before we ever turn on the television or the radio.  In the news, we hear about the challenges and the suffering of this time; the fear and heartache, the pain and disease, but we will not hear anything about Jesus on the throne; establishing His kingdom on the earth and making all things right, and restoring the world...not destroying it. 

We know that Jesus will come again with shout of acclamation and the angelic army in his train.  There will be a trumpet blast and all that is wrong in the world will be made right.  Until then, it is our job as Christians to discern the times and seek out the Kingdom where God's love and power are seen and heard and felt.  This is often in the midst of the challenges and suffering, fear and heartache, pain and disease.  Finally, we are called to be His presence to those who know the wold, but not the Hope of the world.

Remember that the Bible is a book about the restoration of God's people and the earth.  Not destruction. The good news is a reversal of the curse.  During these unprecedented times, I wish you all the joy, love, hope, and peace of the new heavens and the new earth.  Joy to the World! The Lord has come; No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infests the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow as far as the curse is found!"  (Isaac Watts, Joy to the World)

 Church Stopping. Less doing. More being.