Eastertide April 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-6

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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’ –Revelation 21:1-4

The book of Revelation is fraught with extremes. Horrid, violent battles are tossed together with some of the most gloriously and beautiful songs of celebration. It asks where is God in the midst of famine and war. It challenges us to really see the destructive side of our lives and the grief that results when it is allowed to run amok. It seems to rob us of all hope that we can do anything about evil, yet declares ultimate victory by God of which we are a key element.

The scripture selection for today tells us that God will pitch God’s tent among us or tabernacle with us. It is the end of the book and it is still talking about temporary housing. It is talking about the now of the Kingdom of God, the work necessary to bring about making all things new, and the future that will result.

I am not a great fan of camping out. It requires a lot of hard work that is never really finished. I like to drive up to a nice motel and register. About the only work I am required to do is carry my bags into a clean room with a bath, temperature control, a good restaurant a few steps away or, if I am really tired, room service. What I really do not want to acknowledge is that a lot of hard work by a lot of people made my rest haven possible.

If we want a world that is ruled by love, where God, the very essence of love, is in our midst, we must make that vision our life’s work becoming the source of, as well as the recipient of, its reality. We were blessed to receive a wonderful role model for such a way of being: Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help us build a world where love rules and as a result where we rest in the joy of your salvation as we continue in the work of love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.