29 May, 2015 4. Restoration – an explanation of how things end
Getting started
Have you ever taken on a restoration project — like a house, an old wooden chair, or to repair a beautiful dress for a special occasion? Did you succeed?
A look at the Bible
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… 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.
The Apostle John, explaining his vision of the future (Revelation 21:1-4)
…Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions… …Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus as in Luke 12:15 and 33-34
Looking at Revelation 21, what is God’s end-vision for planet earth?
Can you recall from the tutorial the different ‘levels’ of help the Bible explains God to be giving through our history? What can we learn from this?
At the present time, what is our part in God’s vision for the restoration of this planet? What sorts of things does this involve?
Our Response
What needs in your family, workplace or community bother you the most?
What could you do to help bring about positive change? What is your first step?
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the hope you give us of a completely restored creation. We look forward to that!
Help us to see the ways in which we can make our families better, our workplaces better, and our communities and nation better. Give us vision, wisdom and courage to bring about positive change.
In Jesus name we pray
Amen.
