I was talking with a man who recently returned from working in central Asia for several months. He went to be of assistance to folks living there in whatever way he could. He ended up building roads for part of the time. It’s the kind of work he can sink his teeth into. What I mean is he can be asked, “Can you build a road between this village and that?” And he knows how to do it. He can just go, no handholding. He was willing but it wasn’t his intention to go there to build roads.He made the comment that he reckoned that anything done to the glory of God would be there in the new earth. If he made a road to the glory of God it will be there when we get back here. The concept struck me. Certainly that would be true of caring for God’s earth! If we plant trees to the glory of God wouldn’t the new earth be more like a lush garden then a paved parking lot? Unless of course that parking lot was made to the glory of God. At least a city with a great park system and lots of green space would be a better picture of the new earth. That sounds so much more pleasant than the Nairobi I picture these days with the garbage heaps and puffs of diesel exhaust.
We’re here now. It’s my great desire to spend myself on behalf of God’s great Name for the sake of those who are “hungry and afflicted.” Isaiah 58 says that if we do that we will be like a well-watered garden. – to His glory.
3 comments:
Hmmm... I'll need to think about that. More soon.
I've been mulling this over. I don't mean to be contrary, just thinking out loud. What about verses like:
2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."
and Revelation 21:1,
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."
then I find, in contrast,
1 Cor. 3:12-15
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
or
Revelation 14:13
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”"
Hmmm... Interesting.
Jan,
Are you in Africa now?
Post a Comment