GOD’S WORD FOR SEPTEMBER 23 ~ ~ Romans 8:22 ~ ~ “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”
From “We Shall See God”–with sermons from the great Charles Spurgeon and Randy Alcorn.
Here’s what Randy has to say about the new earth:
Spurgeon says, “God will bless the earth for Christ’s sake even as once He cursed it for man’s sake.” God has never given up on His original creation. Yet somehow we’ve managed to overlook an entire biblical vocabulary that makes this point clear:
Reconcile
Redeem
Restore
Recover
Return
Renew
Regenerate
Resurrect.
Each of these biblical words begins with the “re” prefix, suggesting a return to an original condition that was ruined or lost. REDEMPTION means to buy back what was formerly owned. Similarly, reconciliation means the restoration or reestablishment of a prior friendship or union.
These words emphasize that God already sees us in light of what He intended us to be, and He always seeks to restore us to that design. Likewise, he sees the earth in terms of what He intended it to be, and He seeks to restore it to its original design.
It’s impossible to understand the ministry of Christ without the larger view of redemption’s sweeping salvage plan.
Religion professor Albert Wolters says it is “particularly striking that all of Jesus’ miracles (with the one exception of the cursing of the fig tree) are miracles of restoration—restoration to health, life, freedom from demonic possession. Jesus’ miracles provide us with a sample of the meaning of redemption: a freeing of creation from the shackles of sin and evil and a reinstatement of creaturely living as intended by God.
God placed mankind on earth to fill it, rule it, and develop it to God’s glory. But that plan has never been fulfilled. Should we therefore conclude that God’s plan was ill conceived, thwarted, or abandoned? No. These conclusions do not fit the character of an all-knowing, all-wise, sovereign God.
In “Creation Regained”, Wolters writes:
“God hangs on to His fallen original creation and salvages it. He refuses to abandon the work of His hands—in fact, He sacrifices His own Son to save the original project. Humankind, which has botched its original mandate and the whole creation along with it, is given another chance in Christ; we are reinstated as God’s managers on earth. The original good creation is to be restored.”
God hasn’t changed His mind; He hasn’t fallen back to Plan B or abandoned what He originally intended for us at the creation of the world. When Christ says, “Take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34) it’s as if He’s saying, “This is what I wanted for you all along. This is what I went to the Cross for and defeated death to give you. Take it, rule it, exercise dominion over it, enjoy it. And in doing so, share My happiness.”
God doesn’t throw away His handiwork and start from scratch—-instead, he uses the same canvas to repair and make more beautiful the painting marred by the vandal. God makes an even greater masterpiece out of what His enemy sought to destroy. And for that, we will worship and praise Him for all eternity!!!
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Matthew 25:34
Then the King will say to those on His RIGHT HAND, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
(The right hand, in the Bible depicts the power, mercy, and in fact, the depth of the entire person reaching out. It is a positional statement also. Besides the tremendous blessing of eternal happiness with Him, let’s see what things we get in this life when we are saved—–aka being at the “right hand of God”)
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore
Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Psalm 139:10
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.
Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.
PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!
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