GodReflection: Has God Noticed? The World Is In Chaos.
Today closes this series of reflections on our chaotic world. Thank you for reading over my shoulder as I try to make sense—at least in my own mind—of chaos in our world. I don’t claim complete comprehension. However, it is helpful to remind myself of Satan’s role in chaos creation and of God’s work in chaos reduction. As Creator, he initiates final chaos elimination with Jesus’ resurrection when the Messiah became King of the world.
The backstory to this series of posts is the Holy preview of the death and resurrection of Jesus that took place in first century Judea one weekend in Jerusalem over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Like first century believers I too must live through Saturday. To paint a more accurate portrait of my Saturday, I must allude to the Saturday after the crucifixion. The chaos of confusion and darkness became the dominate factor of the day. They saw hope die on a cross. By their definition of Messiah, the death of Jesus proved he was not who they thought him to be. God’s Messiah delivers and reigns—he cannot die.
In the wildness of their imagination no one anticipated resurrection. Saturday must have seemed eternal. It must have been the darkest day any of his followers had or would ever experience. At that moment in time no one could see Sunday. Then it happens. Sunday resurrection changed their world. Truly, the new day initiates the dawn of Risen Hope. The dead Jesus is Risen Messiah.
Jesus tells us his resurrection is a preview for the final attraction. Paul and John, two of Jesus’ apostles, describe as many details of the final events as we humans can comprehend. Paul shares the first scene.
In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:52-54).
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (I Thessalonians 4:14-17).
What an event, the details beyond what our mind’s eye can see and our brain can envision. With eager anticipation our new resurrected bodies will rise in perfection to go out and meet Jesus our King who has wiped chaos from the face of his cleansed earth. We will go forth to meet the conqueror. Then John describes the final scene.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:1-5).
Earth, not heaven, will be my destination. Rather than my ascension to an eternal heaven, heaven descends to the restored earth where Jesus will reign. The Creator (Father, Son and Spirit) will unit with us their children to enjoy together their renewed creation.
Saturday will continue until that eventful day. We live in perpetual Saturday as we anticipate Jesus return and the final resurrection of all the dead who ever walked on the face of the earth. But Sunday will come.
Until then, with faith and trust we arise each morning to work with Jesus to reduce chaos in our world.
All the while we proclaim a resounding Yes, Sunday will come. What joy God’s family will have in the presence of Risen King Jesus on the new earth we will share forever.
Please, will you plan to be there? Can’t wait to see you.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on It’s Saturday . . . Will Sunday Ever Come?
God Reflection 