A New Heaven And A New Earth

Revelation 21:1 ESV 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Heaven and earth are no longer separated. They have been joined together in the newness of life. The creation is finished and God is at rest. And it is very good. 

They are joined in the man Jesus Christ. In His body heaven and earth come together. We in the body of Christ are at the center of that process. He is the head of this body, heaven one might say, and we are of the earth transformed into His flesh and bone. 

Look Carefully - Ephesians 5:15-17

Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Where do we find wisdom of God? In His word. 

How can we understand the will of the Lord? By staying in His word. 

We wouldn't want to miss the boat when the ark of the Lord sets sail. How tragic it will be to watch that ship disappear in the distance with our feet still on the earth. 

By His Wounds - 1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24 ESV 

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Sin brings disfigurement and death to the soul of man. Jesus was beaten and disfigured before He was hung on the cross to die. 

We who were marred by sin and destined to die have been healed. Our wounds and disease are healed by His saving grace. Not given with just words of forgiveness, but by receiving the weight and fury of the punishment on behalf of those who did not know or love Him. 

He has restored us to life by receiving our death. He chose us as worthy of redemption. We choose Him by receiving His grace because He is worthy.

Hidden - Colossians 3:3

Colossians 3:3 ESV 

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Dying with Christ means we have forsaken our life for His. Our old life has followed Him into the grave and our new life in Christ, who sits at the right side of God on His throne in heaven. This is how our life is hidden in His and His life in God.

 It is our new life which is unseen by the world. 

It is only when we die to self that we are able to see God.

Just as the things of God become visible in His light and leave the darkness behind, to the darkness of the world those things that are of the light become invisible to those who remain in the darkness. 

Darkness blinds the eye to the light.

The knowledge of good and evil allows us to see both, and therefore we can choose between the two. In choosing Jesus we become the bride of Christ and will be given access to the tree of life. 

God now provides the one way back to the Garden, just as there was one way out. 

Hidden - Colossians 3:3

Colossians 3:3 ESV 

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Dying with Christ means we have forsaken our life for His. Our old life has followed Him into the grave and our new life in Christ, who sits at the right side of God on His throne in heaven. This is how our life is hidden in His and His life in God.

 It is our new life which is unseen by the world. 

It is only when we die to self that we are able to see God.

Just as the things of God become visible in His light and leave the darkness behind, to the darkness of the world those things that are of the light become invisible to those who remain in the darkness. 

Darkness blinds the eye to the light.

The knowledge of good and evil allows us to see both, and therefore we can choose between the two. In choosing Jesus we become the bride of Christ and will be given access to the tree of life. 

God now provides the one way back to the Garden, just as there was one way out. 

Set Your Minds - Colossians 3:2

Colossians 3:2 ESV 

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

We are called to transform our minds. He has provided the model and the perfection of mind in His Son Jesus Christ. Doing so will eventually free our bodies from the earth. Our bodies will follow the mind wherever it goes. A mind set on the things of earth will return to its dust. A mind set on things above will soar into eternity. 

The Gentle Rain

The earth is separated from the waters of the deep

And rises above the surface to dry in the sun

Where it now can receive the gentle rain

That falls from heaven above