New Heavens and New Earth

Throughout Jewish and Christian history, people looked forward to paradise regained. Many biblical passages speak of a time when sin and suffering will be no more. Justice will be done and the wicked will be sent out of God's benevolent presence.

Our Lord promised a repentant thief on the cross next to his that he'd be with him there. Luke 22:43 (BBE) reads, "And he said to him, 'Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in Paradise.'"

We need new heavens and a new earth because the universe we have now is cursed by the fall. After Peter wrote of the destruction of the old creation, he explained in 2 Peter 3:13 (BBE), "But having faith in his word, we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, which will be the resting-place of righteousness."

What a joy it will be when we will be free from sin and temptation. As Isaiah 66:22 (BBE) predicts, "For as the new heaven and the new earth which I will make will be for ever before me, says the Lord, so will your seed and your name be for ever."

How wonderful too that the nasty things of this world won't even be remembered in the one to come. Isaiah 65:17 (BBE) tells us, "For see, I am making a new heaven and a new earth: and the past things will be gone completely out of mind."

Better still, we'll have new bodies which won't grow old and die. As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:53 and 54 (BBE), "For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life. But when this has taken place, then that which was said in the Writings will come true, 'Death is overcome by life.'"

Best of all, God will be with us forever. Never will sin be a barrier between him and us. Revelation 21:3 and 4 (BBE) assures us, "And there came to my ears a great voice out of the high seat, saying, 'See, the Tent of God is with men, and he will make his living-place with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end.'" Amen!

If Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about Who's responsible for COVID-19.

Saturday Song: Bobby Bear, "500 Miles Away from Home

When I was a boy, I was sent five-hundred miles from my home to a residential school in Vancouver, British Columbia. Fifty years ago, people assumed that blind and partially-sighted children needed to be segregated and taught by specialized teachers. I'm glad this is no longer the case.

Though Bobby Bear's song is about being a long way from his mom, I certainly understand the feeling. Check out his song here.

All born-again believers are far from the one we love: Jesus the Christ. We await his coming like a child wishes Christmas or the next birthday would hurry up and arrive. 

Ephesians 1:13 and 14 (BBE) expresses this wish in our hearts. "In whom you, having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope, Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory."

Though we now suffer in this sin-cursed world, a day will come when we and it will be liberated from the curse. Romans 8:22 and 23 (BBE) expresses this well. "For we are conscious that all living things are weeping and sorrowing in pain together till now. And not only so, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we have sorrow in our minds, waiting for the time when we will take our place as sons, that is, the salvation of our bodies."

What a wonderful day that will be when our beloved Lord and Master returns to claim us for his own. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 53 BBE), "In a second, in the shutting of an eye, at the sound of the last horn: for at that sound the dead will come again, free for ever from the power of death, and we will be changed. For this body which comes to destruction will be made free from the power of death, and the man who is under the power of death will put on eternal life."

Just as I never went back to that horrid school in the autumn of 1970, so we'll never suffer and die after the resurrection. Rejoice in knowing that we'll be going to our eternal home once this exile of life ends or Christ returns.

Thanks to Roger Brannon in Tallahassee, Florida for tipping me off about this song.

On Monday, unless Christ arrives first, I hope to post about The new heavens and new earth God will give to us who love him.

Fifty Years Out of Jericho

To almost all Christians and Jews, Jericho was the first Canaanite city which the descendents of Israel destroyed. It's also the city which was rebuilt at the cost of the builder's first-born son. Jesus himself passed through that city of palms and healed Blind Bartimaeus.

For me, Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind was like a minimum security prison camp. I was only allowed to visit home at Christmas, summer, and three Easter holidays.

How I wished that Joshua would march around its walls and we could go home. As Joshua 6:20 (BBE) relates, "So the people gave a loud cry, and the horns were sounded; and on hearing the horns the people gave a loud cry, and the wall came down flat, so that the people went up into the town, every man going straight before him, and they took the town."

A clown visited Jericho once. After his magic tricks, he quoted John 3:16 (BBE). "For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life."

Sadly, it and the Bible stories a nurse read to me meant nothing. Like the stories we heard at the Anglican church Sunday school, those ancient tales didn't relate to us.

It was only at a vacation Bible school in a woman's basement that the Lord made the gospel personal to me. I believed in God but I never knew that I needed to repent and invite Christ into my life.

My education in secular subjects was Likewise stunted. Just as I never heard the gospel at the Anglican church, the curriculum at Jericho was a year behind that of public schools. As a result, I had to work doubly hard to get even average grades. And I had the haunting fear that I'd be shipped back to Jericho if I didn't do well.

Jericho is no more, and I praise God for that. You can read the history of that Institution here.

If Christ doesn't return on Saturday, I plan to post about being five-hundred miles from home. That's about how far from home I was at Jericho.

A Father to the Fatherless

I feel sad that the word "father" can trigger bad memories in some people's minds. The worst of it is that folks associate God with their earthly father. If only they could understand that the heavenly Father loves them far more than any earthly dad ever could.

According to Psalms 68:5 and 6 (BBE), God is, "A father to those who have no father, a judge of the widows, is God in his holy place. Those who are without friends, God puts in families; he makes free those who are in chains; but those who are turned away from him are given a dry land."

Likewise, the Lord cares for those who are downtrodden and unfortunate. Psalms 146:9 (BBE) tells us that, "The Lord takes care of those who are in a strange land; he gives help to the widow and to the child who has no father; but he sends destruction on the way of sinners."

But the Lord's fatherly love causes him to punish those who are wilfully and persistently disobedient. Isaiah 9:17 (BBE) explains, "For this cause the Lord will have no pleasure in their young men, and no pity on their widows and the children without fathers: for they are all haters of God and evil-doers, and foolish words come from every mouth. For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."

Even so, our Father in heaven opposes those who oppress helpless people. As Jeremiah 7:5-7 (BBE) declares, "For if your ways and your doings are truly changed for the better; if you truly give right decisions between a man and his neighbour If you are not cruel to the man from a strange country, and to the child without a father, and to the widow, and do not put the upright to death in this place, or go after other gods, causing damage to yourselves: Then I will let you go on living in this place, in the land which I gave to your fathers in the past and for ever."

It's obvious too that God wants us to be conveyers of his blessings to the less fortunate. James 1:27 (BBE) is quite plain about our duty to them. "The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world."

If Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about my fiftieth anniversary of leaving Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind. What a soul-crushing institution that was.

Saturday Song: Giorgio, "Sun of my Father"

I'm sure most of us can name our fathers and many of us had good relations with both parents. We also tend to be reflections of them both.

Giorgio Moroder pioneered the use of electronic instruments in the seventies. He even performed the backing music to Donna Summer's 1977 hit, "I Feel Love."In 1972, Giorgio had a minor hit called "Son of my Father." Hear his song here:

Parentage was highly important to Israelites. It's why we have genealogies in the Bible. Ever since God told Eve that one of her descendents would crush the Devil's head, both women and men hoped to be the parent of the Messiah.

Though Joseph wasn't the biological father of our Lord, he and his wife had the unique blessing of raising the son of God. Luke 1:30 and 31 (BBE) records, "And the angel said to her, 'Have no fear, Mary, for you have God's approval. And see, you will give birth to a son, and his name will be Jesus."

Jesus knew that his real father was God but he also knew whose spiritual father the Pharisees was. John 8:44 (BBE) reads, "You are the children of your father the Evil One and it is your pleasure to do his desires. From the first he was a taker of life; and he did not go in the true way because there is no true thing in him. When he says what is false, it is natural to him, for he is false and the father of what is false."

The term "fathers" also means ancestors in the scriptures. Stephen used that term in Acts 7:51 and 52 (BBE) when he blasted the Pharisees. "You whose hearts are hard and whose ears are shut to me; you are ever working against the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets was not cruelly attacked by your fathers? and they put to death those who gave them the news of the coming of the Upright One; whom you have now given up and put to death;"

Let's be like our heavenly Father in all we say, think, and do.

On Monday, unless Christ returns first, I hope to post about the father to the fatherless.

Why We Can Rely on God

I'm glad that our heavenly Father is so dependable. Even though we don't get every single thing our hearts desire and evil seems to rule the planet, our Lord is still in control.

That's why we can rejoice in Psalms 146:5 and 6 (BBE) which says, "Happy is the man who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things in them; who keeps faith for ever:"

God always keeps his promises. After the flood, we read what he said in Genesis 9:12 and 13 (BBE). "And God said, This is the sign of the agreement which I make between me and you and every living thing with you, for all future generations: I will put my bow in the cloud and it will be for a sign of the agreement between me and the earth."

Bible prophecy is another way God proves his reliability. One great example is when Daniel translated the King of Babylon's dream. Daniel 2:31-35 (BBE) reads, "You, O King, were looking, and a great image was there. This image, which was very great, and whose glory was very bright, was placed before you: its form sent fear into the heart. As for this image, its head was made of the best gold, its breast and its arms were of silver, its middle and its sides were of brass, Its legs of iron, its feet were in part of iron and in part of potter's earth. While you were looking at it, a stone was cut out, but not by hands, and it gave the image a blow on its feet, which were of iron and earth, and they were broken in bits."

History reveals the answer to the first four  metals in the image. The gold was Babylon, the silver was Persia, the brawn's was Greece and the legs were Rome. I believe the feet of Iron and clay are the nations of this world. Christ is the stone which will bring to nothing all the powers of this wicked world.

The prophesies of Christ's coming also show that only one person could fulfil all of them. Matthew's gospel is filled with these. As just one example, Christ's birth fulfilled Isaiah 7:14 (BBE). "For this cause the Lord himself will give you a sign; a young woman is now with child, and she will give birth to a son, and she will give him the name Immanuel."

If the Lord doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about men being sons of their fathers.

The Past Belongs to Our Children

This sounds like a contradiction but it's true. Future generations need to know what went on before. Hopefully, they'll learn from what happened and make proper decisions.

The Bible is filled with admonitions to retell the old stories to our children. Psalms 78:4 (BBE) is a good example. "We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done."

The Passover was a feast but it also memorialized what God did for his people. Exodus 12:26 and 27 (BBE) reminded the Israelites, "And when your children say to you, 'What is the reason of this act of worship?' Then you will say, 'This is the offering of the Lord's Passover; for he went over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he sent death on the Egyptians, and kept our families safe. And the people gave worship with bent heads.'"

We need to teach children the consequences of disobeying the Lord as well. Deuteronomy 11:18 and 19 (BBE) reads, "So keep these words deep in your heart and in your soul, and have them fixed on your hand for a sign and marked on your brow; Teaching them to your children, and talking of them when you are at rest in your house or walking by the way, when you go to sleep and when you get up:"

Memorials are also important, though they need not be physical. After the descendents of Israel crossed over the Jordan river on dry ground, they erected twelve large stones. Joshua 4:6 and 7 (BBE) explains, "So that this may be a sign among you; when your children say to you in time to come, 'What is the reason for these stones' Then you will say to them, 'Because the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the Lord's agreement; when it went over Jordan the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones will be a sign for the children of Israel, keeping it in their memory for ever.'"

We read in Joel 1:3 and 4 BBE) how we are to remind future generations of God's chastisement as well. "Give the story of it to your children, and let them give it to their children, and their children to another generation. What the worm did not make a meal of, has been taken by the locust; and what the locust did not take, has been food for the plant-worm; and what the plant-worm did not take, has been food for the field-fly."

On Thursday, if Christ hasn't returned, I hope to post about God's reliability.

This is one of those science fiction songs which could inspire a movie. In it, important individuals are waiting for the pilot to fly them away from the disaster they created. Of course we know that there's no safe place, especially now with so many countries developing nuclear weapons.

Listen to this classic song from 1979 here:

We, who place our trust in Christ, know that there's no avoiding judgement either. Ezekiel 18:4 (BBE) is a stark reminder of whom we all belong to. "See, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so the soul of the son is mine: death will be the fate of the sinner's soul."

But the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:13 (BBE) of those folks who will escape eternal damnation. "For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life."

The high and mighty of this world aren't immune from consequences, as Psalms 82:6 and 7 (BBE) declares. "I said, You are gods; all of you are the sons of the Most High: But you will come to death like men, falling like one of the rulers of the earth."

Even pious individuals won't escape God's righteous condemnation for their prideful arrogance. In John 8:24 (BBE), Christ argued with the Pharisees who figured they were holy and needed no saviour. "For this reason I said to you that death will overtake you in your sins: for if you have not faith that I am he, death will come to you while you are in your sins."

God hates pridefulness, as 1 Peter 5:5 (BBE) explains. "And in the same way, let the younger men be ruled by the older ones. Let all of you put away pride and make yourselves ready to be servants: for God is a hater of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low."

On Monday, providing Christ doesn't return beforehand, I hope to post about our heritage to our children.

Why Let Discouragement Rule You?

I'm sure we all experience spells of discouragement from time to time. This usually happens because of false expectations in events and other people. But it isn't healthy to stay in a slump.

As Psalms 42:5 (BBE) reminds us, "Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God."

Our spiritual leaders especially need encouragement as they bear the responsibility of Christ's flock. Moses knew this burden all too well. When he handed the reins of power to Joshua, he told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:38 (BBE) that, "Joshua, the son of Nun, your servant, he will go into the land: say to him that he is to be strong, for he will be Israel's guide into their heritage."

God also encouraged the exiles in Babylon that he hadn't forsaken them. Jeremiah 29:11 and 12 (BBE) reads, "For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end. And you will go on crying to me and making prayer to me, and I will give ear to you."

Furthermore, doubt is a sin in that it makes people believe that God won't help them. Peter learned this lesson when he walked on the water. But he became concerned about the raging waves and he began to sink. Matthew 14:31 (BBE) tells what happened next. "And straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, 'O man of little faith, why were you in doubt?'"

Trusting in Christ is mandatory if we're to follow him. When the disciples gathered for the last Passover, our lord reminded them of this. John 16:33 (BBE) reads, "I have said all these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble: but take heart! I have overcome the world."

Though there are chemical imbalances and medical conditions which can make a person chronically depressed, we often get the blues when we forget whom we belong to. It's why Bible reading is a crucial practice.

On Saturday, if Christ doesn't return first, I hope to post about a great song by Ian Thomas.

Our Father in Heaven Watches Over Us

I'm sure all of us have felt abandoned by God at times when everything went sideways. But feelings are deceiving. The truth is that our Father always watches us.

Take heart in Psalms 33:18 and 19 (BBE) which reads, "See, the eye of the Lord is on those in whose hearts is the fear of him, on those whose hope is in his mercy; To keep their souls from death; and to keep them living in time of need."

And in reference to doing our alms and prayers in private, Jesus gave us a wonderful promise in Matthew 6:3 and 4 (BBE). "But when you give money, let not your left hand see what your right hand does: So that your giving may be in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

Likewise, Christ said in Matthew 6:6 (BBE) that God hears our private prayers. "But when you make your prayer, go into your private room, and, shutting the door, say a prayer to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward."

Being children of the King of Kings, those who persecute us are in for a bad time on Judgement Day. Matthew 18:10 (BBE) is a warning to those who abuse Christ's adopted siblings. "Let it not seem to you that one of these little ones is of no value; for I say to you that in heaven their angels see at all times the face of my Father in heaven."

Of course persecution will come our way but we have the Spirit to help us through. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8 and 9 (BBE), "For it is our desire that you may not be without knowledge of our trouble which came on us in Asia, that the weight of it was very great, more than our power, so that it seemed that we had no hope even of life: Yes, we ourselves have had the answer of death in ourselves, so that our hope might not be in ourselves, but in God who is able to give life to the dead:"

Though our trials seem long, they're but a moment compared to eternity's bliss. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17 and 18 (BBE), "For our present trouble, which is only for a short time, is working out for us a much greater weight of glory; While our minds are not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are for a time; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

What a blessed hope we have. We aren't alone in this world but we have our Father to fall back on.

On Thursday, if Christ doesn't return before then, I hope to continue the theme of encouragement amid discouragement.

Saturday Song: James Taylor, "You've Got a Friend"

James Taylor is a British singer who was helped by The Beatles' Apple Records label to be heard by the world. Though this 1971 hit is a love song, it also applies to our Master and how he lovingly cares for us.

Listen to this song here:

We know that our Lord and Master will never forsake us, even if we forsake him. Hebrews 13:5 (BBE) reminds us to, "Be free from the love of money and pleased with the things which you have; for he himself has said, 'I will be with you at all times'".

Though Christ isn't physically present with us, we're linked to him through the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:16 and 17 (BBE), "And I will make prayer to the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you for ever, Even the Spirit of true knowledge. That Spirit the world is not able to take to its heart because it sees him not and has no knowledge of him: but you have knowledge of him, because he is ever with you and will be in you."

We who haven't seen Christ can rejoice in the blessing Jesus declared to Thomas when he met the risen Lord. John 20:29 (BBE) says, "Jesus said to him, 'Because you have seen me you have belief: a blessing will be on those who have belief though they have not seen me!'"

Likewise, we read in 1 Peter 1:8 (BBE), "To whom your love is given, though you have not seen him; and the faith which you have in him, though you do not see him now, gives you joy greater than words and full of glory:"

Our faithfulness will be rewarded when our Master returns. As Revelation 22:12 (BBE) says, "See, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man the outcome of his works."

If Christ doesn't return before Monday, I hope to post about how our heavenly Father watches over us.

Our Hope is in the Lord

As I wrote on Monday, we have the wonderful privilege of placing our hope in the Lord. Psalms 31:23 and 24 (BBE) reminds us, "O have love for the Lord, all you his saints; for the Lord keeps safe from danger all those who are true to him, and gives the workers of pride their right reward. Put away fear and let your heart be strong, all you whose hope is in the Lord."

One seldomly quoted verse by preachers, at least that I've heard, is Nahum 1:7 (BBE). It reads, "The Lord is good, a strong place in the day of trouble; and he has knowledge of those who take him for their safe cover."

Another reassuring verse which I seldom hear quoted is Proverbs 30:5 (BBE). "Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to those who put their faith in him."

Pause also and meditate on what Psalms 62:8 (BBE) says. "Have faith in him at all times, you people; let your hearts go flowing out before him: God is our safe place. (Selah.)"

It's easier said than done but we can hold onto the Lord even in perilous times. As Psalms 37:40 (BBE) assures us, "And the Lord will be their help, and keep them safe: he will take them out of the hands of the evil-doers, and be their saviour, because they had faith in him."

Even when Death looms over us, we can take comfort in the Father's care. Job 13:15 KJV) was spoken by a man suffering deep physical and emotional distress. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him."

Even our deaths can bring glory to the Lord. The Apostle Paul sure knew that, having faced the Grim Reaper many times. As he wrote in Philippians 1:21 (BBE), "For to me life is Christ and death is profit."

While the world dreads death, we know we'll be home with the Lord. This is what helps go through whatever this world throws at us.

On Saturday, provided Christ doesn't come first, I hope to post about our ultimate friend: Christ.

Like the Hope of a Tree

I sense a shortage of hope these days. The news is filled with virus reports, tallying up the infected, the dead, and those recovering from it. But we who follow Christ have an enduring hope which can't be stolen.

Many people today are like those in Job's time. They figure there's no life after death. But we truly are like the way Job 14:7-9 (BBE) describes a revived tree. "For there is hope of a tree; if it is cut down, it will come to life again, and its branches will not come to an end. Though its root may be old in the earth, and its cut-off end may be dead in the dust; Still, at the smell of water, it will make buds,
and put out branches like a young plant."

Even in the time of The Old Testament, people knew about resurrection. We read in Jude 1:14 and 15 BBE) of his mention of an ancient scripture about resurrection. "The prophet Enoch, who was the seventh after Adam, said of these men, 'The Lord came with tens of thousands of his saints, To be the judge of all, and to give a decision against all those whose lives are unpleasing to him, because of the evil acts which they have done, and because of all the hard things which sinners without fear of God have said against him."

In the oldest book in the Bible, we find this glorious statement on the resurrection. Job 19:26 (KJV) proclaims, "And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

In the New Testament, we have Christ's awesome revelation to Thomas. John 14:6 (BBE)reads, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the true and living way: no one comes to the Father but by me.'"

Since that is so, we know he will raise us up at the last day. Romans 8:11 (BBE) promises, "But if the Spirit of him who made Jesus come again from the dead is in you, he who made Christ Jesus come again from the dead will in the same way, through his Spirit which is in you, give life to your bodies which now are under the power of death."

Though things may seem hopeless these days, our great hope is in Christ. Let's live like we believe that.

On Thursday, if Christ hasn't returned by then, I hope to publish another post about our hope in the Lord.