Grasping Redemption's Far Reach

Week Three

I love how Day One begins this week: “God created the entire universe to be an expression of His character. Because He is good, every facet of it was wonderful. But humanity rebelled, and the universe fell under the weight of our sin.”

Although God desired only good things for His children, Adam and Eve made a sinful choice. Their rebellion is still affecting mankind and it's as though life as it was meant to be is a "fog." But even when Adam and Even sinned, God had a plan in place to redeem mankind and all of creation.

Alcorn begins this week with the reminder that God promises to renew the earth itself, “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”

Reading this made me think of a blog post I wrote once called "Lesson of a Once-Scrawny Cedar Tree." If you read it, you’ll understand why my husband and I refer to the cedar as our “restoration tree.”

Day One (Week Three): Why is Earth’s Redemption Essential to God’s Plan?

This chapter begins with a verse from Isa. 65:17: “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.”

To my simple mind, I can picture a couple that’s distraught over the loss of their newly purchased 20-year old home. A few hours after they had signed the closing papers, there was a thunderstorm and … you guessed it … lightning strikes their house, starting a fire. (Hope you realize I’m making this illustration up.)

As the new owners watch their house burn to the ground, their insurance agent walks up, puts his arm around them and says, “Everything can be replaced. You are fully insured and you can build a brand new home.”

God did something much greater than replacing a 20-year-old home with a brand new one. As believers he has promised that one day all of the wrongs will be made right. One day the whole earth will be filled with His glory. (Ps. 72:19; Hab. 2:14; see page 54).

What do the following words suggest to you about God: reconcile, redeem, restore, recover, return, renew, regenerate, resurrect, and reclaim? Is there an area of your life that is like the “scrawny cedar tree”?

Redemption is God’s specialty!

Day Two (Week Three): Why is the Resurrection so important?

“Death is an abnormal condition,” Alcorn says, “because it tears apart what God created and joined together.”

I think each of us couldn’t agree more. Although my father had lived a full life when he died more than 10 years ago, it just didn’t seem right that a man I loved so much, one who had modeled integrity and devotion to his family, would just “disappear.”

Of course, I know that he didn’t “disappear.” I know that Dad is in heaven today because of his faith in Jesus Christ. And I know that I will see him again (and look so forward to it).

The Designer’s original plan was that we would not be torn apart from those we love. When sin entered the world, so did the consequence of physical death.

What reunion are you looking forward to in Heaven one day?

Jesus defeated death. He told his disciples after His resurrection, “It is I myself.” As Alcorn says (page 61), they undoubtedly recognized the nail marks on his hands.

As we read of Jesus appearing to the disciples in John 21, we read that he stood on the shore, talked to them, and ate with them. If Jesus enjoyed fellowship and food with those he loved in His resurrected body, it seems logical that we will also be able to do this.

Alcorn says on page 62, “The fact that Jesus picked up His relationships where they’d [Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter] left off is a foretaste of our own lives after we are resurrected.”

What do you think about this?

Day Three (Week Three): What Will it Mean for the Curse to be Lifted?

“We live in an in-between time,” Alcorn says (page 63), “hearing echoes of Eden and the approaching footfalls of the New Earth.”

All of us experience the result of sin’s curse on this world. Perhaps you have a chronic illness, wayward child or an unfair boss. Sickness, broken relationships, and family disarray are not from the hand of God. Oh, He allows them for now, but they won’t be present in the New Earth. Christ completely defeated Satan through His death on the cross.

I recently watched a wonderful short video, Yours for Life, about how we can be sure that our relationship with Christ is secure. This little video is worth watching … and passing on.

As Alcorn reminds us (page 66), God’s plan is “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).

Yes, we are just passing through this world … to a much better place! A place where Jesus Christ will rule forever and ever.

All things in Heaven and on earth will one day be brought together in one universe, under one head, Jesus Christ (Revelations 21:3).

Day Four (Week Three): What Does the Restored Earth Mean?

How can some Scripture seem to suggest the present earth and universe will be destroyed while others speak of the earth’s remaining forever (page 67)? Read Ps. 78:69; 102:25-26; Eccl. 1:4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 21:1.

In what way do the above Scripture cause you to think differently about Heaven (pages 68-70)?

I was so encouraged by reading Isaiah 65:17 and underlining phrases (page 68) that indicated the prophecies in Isaiah 65 refer to the New Earth: “create a new heaven and a new earth,” “create Jerusalem,” “people will build,” “will plant,” “will feed," “will be dust” …

What does a restored earth mean (pages 67-71)? Our little cedar tree is in the process of being restored. Of course, perfect restoration will only occur with the New Earth. The perfect creation that was lost will be completely regained.

Day Five (Week Three): Will the New Earth Feel Like Home?

When I went through this study with some friends in the fall, we had so much fun dreaming of the things that we will be able to do on the New Earth that we’ve never done before (page 72)? I don’t know if there will be airplanes in the New Earth, but I’d love to do something like skydiving—how beautiful it would be to drift from the sky to my forever home. (I’m too chicken to do this now.)

What about you? What would you like to do? Climb Pikes Peak, work in a rose garden, read a good book, etc.?

Alcorn says that the things we love about life resonate with life as it was meant to be. God did not create us for traffic jams, packed schedules, and exhausted bodies. When I watch the sun say, “Good morning,” as its golden rays stretch through the night sky … or canoe down a river with my husband and see turtles sunning on rocks while an eagle flies overhead … or cuddle a new grandbaby, holding him close to my heart … I know there is a greater life to come.

I do hope that you are enjoying this study. Would you please send an e-mail to mary@marymaywrites.com and let me know what God is teaching you? Thanks!

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://wanttostudythebible.blogspot.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

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Photo copyright by Jim Larmoyeux. Used with permission. All rights reserved.