New Heaven, New Earth

Thanks for joining me again for my bible word study of the word "new." In my last post Tiana from Disney's Princess and the Frog led us to our discussion of being a new creation. Today the Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. will guide us to our next "new" scripture.

Yesterday the nation paused to remember Dr. King. My family attended two celebrations in our city of Conway, Arkansas. The first included my hubby, Anthony as the keynote speaker. It was amazing.

Anthony's theme: Dr. King's dream didn't originate in his own heart, but in the heart of God. God has always desired unity amongst different races, colors and nationalities. However, total peace will never exist as long as sinful men and women walk the face of the earth. Unfortunately, evil and discord and discrimination will always exist on some level.

Yet we can do more.

We must examine our own hearts and ask the hard questions. What have I done to foster unity in my community, my workplace, my church? Am I as open to relationships with people of different races, backgrounds or social economic groups as I am to people more like me? If a person of a different race walked into my church, would he/she feel comfortable there? Would people of different races find others that resemble them in my church?

We should do more.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," said Dr. King. Therefore injustice in the 'hood is injustice in the 'burbs. Injustice in Kenya, East Africa is injustice in the United States. Injustice in Cambodia is injustice right here at home.

We must do more.

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, he included the line, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

If we're going to experience a bit of heaven on earth, we should examine what heaven will be like. The book of Revelations gives us a glimpse.

"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 with 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

 And what will the people of this new heaven and new earth look like? Let's take a closer glimpse...

"And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." Revelation 5:9

Now I ask, why should we wait for heaven to live and work and worship with people from every tribe and language and people and nation?

I say today is the day. Let us live the dream...

Love,

Carla