21 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:1-5 (Emphasis mine).
Former Things
Death. Mourning. Crying. Pain. The apostle John, recording what he heard spoken by a loud voice “from the throne”, refers to these in the past tense. Specifically, as former things. Presumably, the apostle John, and by extension we his audience, need to have these thing relegated to their proper place and status. They were never God’s intention for the “first” earth, and they won’t be admitted in the new.
In this text, John likens the new Jerusalem to a bride adorned for her husband. This is one wedding for which the old rhyme “something old-something new” doesn’t hold true. For this bride at least, the old must go. Death, mourning, crying and pain are not proper attire, but rather worn out garments. Not exactly becoming for a beautiful bride. Especially if the groom is Divine!
Present Things
Do you find it ironic that these things which John refers to as “former things” have a way of dominating the present? Death, mourning, crying and pain form a rather potent quartet! I cannot think of any way to avoid them. Can you? They are like a pack of vicious hounds that never lose our scent trail. We can try to run and hide from them but they always seem to be on our heels or lurking around the next corner. Can’t you see them foaming at the mouth awaiting the next opportunity to get us in their jaws.
In a world dominated by sin how do we respond to it’s consequences? Aren’t death, mourning, crying and pain inevitable? It seems as if one of them always has their teeth into our flesh. I know that for our family, as well as many of our dearest friends, the last year or so has been extremely difficult as a string of tragic deaths of has bit us. Hence, this “first earth” has become a different home painted with a melancholy hue.
Admittedly, when we allow the “former things” to dominate us, colors lose their vibrancy and music it’s beauty. Rather than living life to it’s fullest, it feels more like we have been merely existing in a monochrome world filled with static. In such a state our joys become tempered and our hopes bated. Undoubtedly this is no place for a child of the King to dwell. Definitely, not for an extended period of time. Accordingly, when we are biding our time in such an existence, we need to hear a loud voice from Heaven’s throne putting the “former things” in a proper perspective.
A Biblical View
As long as we reside on this “first earth”, suffering is inevitable. Granted, our specific trials may be different, but we all experience similar consequences. Death. Mourning. Crying. Pain. Knowing that we all be susceptible to allowing these things to dominate us (and depress us), I want to share some encouragement from Timothy Keller.
As I was recently reading through Keller’s book, The Reason for God, he had this to say.
“I think we need something more than knowing God is with us in our difficulties. We also need hope that our suffering is ‘not in vain.'”
“The Biblical view of things is resurrection-not a future that is just a consolation for the life we never had but a restoration of the life you always wanted. this means that every horrible thing that ever happened will not only be undone and repaired but will in some way make the eventual glory and joy even greater.” (emphasis his).
You know what I take out of this? As amazing as the cross of Christ is, I need to become more of an empty tomb focused Christian.
Nightmare Lesson
As an illustration, Timothy Keller then proceeds to share a horrible nightmare he had a few years ago. In his dream, everyone in his family had died. As he relates his story, he shares that in addition to the relief he felt when he awoke, his delight in each of the members of his family was “tremendously enriched”. As he looked at each of his family members he realized how grateful he was for each of them and how much he loved them. Here is how he summed it up…
“My joy had been greatly magnified by the nightmare. My delight upon awaking took the terror up into itself, as it were, so that in the end my love for them was only greater for having lost them and found them again. This same dynamic is at work when you lose some possession you take for granted. When you find it again (having thought it was gone forever) you cherish and appreciate it in a far deeper way.”
Since “the Biblical view of things is resurrection”, focusing on the empty grave should help us to remember that life’s tragedies and sufferings don’t have the final word. May God grant us the ability to see the redeeming value in all of life’s circumstances, especially the trials.
Coming Untrue?
In Matthew chapter nineteen (v.28), Jesus uses a Greek word (palingenesis) rich in meaning and symbolism. Keller comments – “This is a radically new concept. Jesus insisted that his return will be with such power that the very material world and universe will be purged of all decay and brokenness. All will be healed and all might-have-beens will be.”
Keller then goes on to quote one of our all time favorite theologians, Sam Gamgee from Tolkiens’ trilogy The Lord of the Rings, upon discovering that his friend Gandalf whom he thought dead was in fact alive and well.
“He cries, ‘I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?’ The answer of Christianity to that question is – yes. Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.”
Can you hear the message of the empty tomb? The hope it instills in us is not bated!!
Backwards Work
No disrespect to Sam Gamgee, but C.S. Lewis is perhaps quoted a little more often. Especially when it comes to theological matters. Here is what he had to say on this topic.
“They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.”
To which Timothy Keller adds – “This is the ultimate defeat of evil and suffering. It will not only be ended but so radically vanquished that what has happened will only serve to make our future life and joy infinitely greater.”
All I can say to that is Amen.