Messiah: Earth Filled with the Knowledge of His Glory

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters that cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 3:14. NKJV). “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.” (Revelation 21:22-26. NKJV).

It is fitting that these devotionals on Messianic prophecies and New Testament fulfillments end with the vision that the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge and the glory of the Lord. We speak of the new Jerusalem, a time in the future when “As I live, says the Lord, ‘Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ “ (Romans 14:11. NKJV. Quoting Isaiah 45:23). Since the time is coming when all will acknowledge the Truth of Messiah, that He is, indeed, as He claimed, “The Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6), it is better to trust Him before the day of judgment than to find that all will, whether willingly and of their own volition or not, bow before Him and acknowledge Who He is, the Everlasting Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of all who come to Him in faith.

I don’t understand why God would love me so much He would send His son to die for me. But in simple childlike faith, I accept that infinite truth. I have based my life and work on the knowledge that I belong to Him and I am someone whom He loved enough to die for. I, therefore, should love Him enough to live for Him. He has given me a partnership of teaching. Even through these devotionals of a year’s duration now I hope some of the truths revealed to me have been an inspiration to readers. I am grateful that I was able to keep my January 1, 2010 resolution to write and share devotionals based on His remarkable Word throughout the year. These have helped me to grow in grace and have come at a time when I needed the discipline and inspiration of intensive Bible study to help me through my dear husband’s worsening physical condition. He lies now at the threshold of death, transition into glory. God has strengthened Him and me through this long journey of illness, and we will see God’s hand and purpose even in these last days. Share where you can and with every person you can the knowledge of the glory of the Son of God, our Savior. We who believe in Him are His chosen vessels for this purpose. We have the privilege of spreading abroad the knowledge of His glory to the ends of the earth. The gospel came to you and me on its way to someone else. May we consider what a privilege is ours to be bearers of the Good News! To God be the glory, and bless you everyone in the new year. Solo Christos! One Lord and Savior! Praise!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, December 31, 2010

Messiah: Lord of the New Heaven and New Earth

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy…Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountains, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 65:17-8, 24-25, NIV). “But in keeping with His promises, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13, NIV). “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, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live 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.” (Revelation 21:1-4. NIV).

A new heaven and a new earth are the ultimate hope of redemptive history. The description by the prophet Isaiah became the prototype of the Messianic Kingdom of John’s vision in Revelation. We still await this blessed hope. God who created the first heaven and the first earth has the power, wisdom and authority to create a new heaven and a new earth. And it will be beyond any human ability to describe it. Even Isaiah with lofty metaphors and John with exceptional visions could not picture fully the glory of the coming new heaven and new earth. The promise is there, solid and secure, for Christians to grasp and believe. God has promised and He will fulfill. His sovereign promise came to pass in the birth of His only begotten Son. Likewise, His sovereign promise will yet come to pass in “the new heaven and the new earth.”

God’s new heaven and earth will not be a place of mourning and sadness. All tears will be eliminated. Death and separation will not be known in the new heaven and earth. Those who on earth as we now know it follow the Lord in faith and fellowship, will dwell in peace and harmony with one another throughout eternity. Death, which began because of the sin of humanity, will be completely defeated in the new heaven and earth. No more will we know sad aspects of human existence: death, tears, mourning, crying and pain. No fear will overtake us, for those once at enmity with each other will be at peace. The redeemed will finally become what God had in mind for His people all along. Limitations and problems of life as we know them will be no more. And even with the beautiful description, it will be better than we can imagine!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, December 18, 2010

Gone the Old, Everything New

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone. –Revelation 21:4

The Revelation was given by Christ the Lord
To John, Christian Apostle, brother, friend.
John, exiled on the Isle of Patmos, heard God:
“Write my message concerning the end.”

With symbolism and passion John penned the words
That God boldly gave in the year Ninety-Five;
And therewith the promise that all who read and heed*
Will be blessed as their faith grows and thrives.

The Son of God exalted, a victor in power reigning
Walks amidst golden lampstands dressed as the King.
Death is behind Him, eternal life before Him,
Triumphant, victorious, He rules everything.

“Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last”**
The Lord told John as he wrote to the churches.
For the Spirit will reveal the Truth we should know,
As we pray He rewards our diligent searches

For Truth that will guide in this life and the next
He gives abundant blessings and promises true;
And whatever trials beset us before the end
His presence is with us until our journey’s through.

*Rev. 1:3. **Rev. 1:17.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, January 10, 2010