Revelation 21: 1-6
I hope you vote on Thursday. I do hope you vote. I
hope you take the privilege and responsibility of being part of a democratic
society seriously. It is easy to be cynical. It’s easy to say “my vote will
make no difference”. It is easy to think that nothing, or little, will change
no matter what the outcome. But just remember the millions of people around the
world who would love to have the opportunity to express their will. The process
may be flawed, but at least there is a process. Now I’ve got my own views as to
who I would like to see in power. But I am less concerned about what colour the
party in power is – red, blue, yellow or some exotic combination – than I am
that the new parliament reflects the will of the people. That can only happen
if we vote.
Of course, whoever is elected will face huge issues –
economic, military, social, ethical. And there will be
no easy answers, no quick fixes, no straightforward
resolutions. For the world we live in is not like that. Nations do face military
threat and conflict. Difficult economic decisions have to be made about what is
to be provided and what is not and how the money is to be raised and
distributed. The world is an imperfect place – there is dishonesty and crime
and evil around. And there is unpredictability too. Who could have foreseen the
chaos caused by an Icelandic volcano? Government is a tough ask.
I want to take you back to about AD 95 and to some
people for whom the thought of having a say, no matter how small, in government
was completely impossible. Sixty five or so years have passed since the life,
death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet for little churches dotted around the
western
The message of the book is that God is in control no
matter how things may look. Jesus Christ, not the Roman emperor, is the Lord of
history. And he is coming again to execute justice.
There is a glorious, wonderful future for every faithful believer – and
especially for those who suffer or who lay down their lives for Christ. The
world and all that happens in it is in God’s hands. His love and care for his
people is unfailing. The final victory of Christ and his people over death and
evil is certain.
We have read part of the climax of the Book of
Revelation in the first 6 verses of Chapter 21. It is a vision of a time when
there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Heaven, where God’s will is done,
and this earth, where God’s will is so often resisted and where that which is
evil and ungodly so often hold sway, will no longer be in conflict. There will
be a new heaven and a new earth. God will renew his creation and heaven and
earth will be one. That’s the vision that John wants his readers to hold on to.
That’s the vision of the culmination of history with which John inspires and
encourages his readers. What will this new world be like?
Firstly, there will be no more fear.
** Revelation 21: 1
**
Now that’s a curious thing to say: “there was no
longer any sea.” The sea was seen as a threatening place. It symbolised chaos
and danger. The promise of no more sea is a promise that God will remove from
us all that threatens our well-being.
Wouldn’t it be good if people could live without fear?
Without fear of oppression; without fear of crime; without
fear for their future security. In the new heaven and new earth there
will be no more fear.
Secondly, in God’s new world God will be in the midst
of humankind.
** Revelation 21: 3
**
Of course Jesus
was “Immanuel”, which means “God with us”. So God is indeed “with us” in the
Spirit of the risen Jesus. But in God’s new world that promise that God is with
us will be fully and permanently made real. Every eye will see him and everyone
will know him. There will be no doubt or uncertainty. God will be in our midst.
Thirdly, in God’s new world there will be no more pain
and no more death.
** Revelation 21: 4
**
When God’s new world comes, everything which has
caused pain and sadness will be gone forever. You know, we grieve when someone
we know and love dies. We grieve when we see poverty and exploitation. We
grieve when we see an oil slick drift towards a fragile coast. We grieve when
life is lessened by illness and disease. In God’s new world there will be no
more pain or death.
Fourthly, in God’s new world people will receive life
from God.
** Revelation 21:
6(b) **
Fresh water is a powerful symbol of God’s new life. We
have used the symbol of water this morning when we baptised Reuben. And our
prayer is that God will continually sustain him and give him what the Bible
calls abundant life, life in all its fullness. We look forward to God’s new
world where life in all its fullness is there for all.
No more fear; God in our midst; no more pain or death;
and abundant life – that’s John’s vision of God’s new world. So doesn’t that
all mean that nothing matters now? Is there nothing to do but sit around and
wait for God to act? No! Just as John’s vision, with its big picture, with its eternal
perspective, was a powerful motivation to those Christian communities in
Listen to verse 5:
** Revelation 21:
5(a) **
“I am making everything new”. That’s present tense.
And that’s significant. Throughout Scripture we discover that God is at work
bringing about his new creation now. And he asks us to be partners with him in
this work. Every act of love and goodness, justice and mercy that you perform
is contributing to this new creation. John’s vision of the completion of all
things should be an inspiration to our contemporary action.
What is it that Jesus said? We read his words earlier:
** John 13: 34-35
**
We are asked, no we are
commanded, to live out the values of God’s kingdom now.
I began by speaking about voting in Thursday’s General
Election. It seems such a small thing. And yet, the more people who don’t
bother to vote, the more likely it is that sooner or later a party of extreme
views, out to foster racism and division and hatred and disunity, such ungodly
values and so contrary to God’s work of new creation, will gain a foothold.
But however you vote, even more important is how you
live.
Will you listen and respond to Jesus? He says to each
one of us:
** Revelation 21: 6
**
Will you follow the one who is the Alpha and the
Omega? Will you turn to him and receive the living water that he offers now? Will
you share in his work and bring water to those who thirst so desperately for
his love?
Let us pray.
Lord, we thank you that we can trust in your unfailing
love. We thank you that you are at work, making all things new. We thank you
that one day you will bring all things to completion. Lord, we thirst for you
and for your life. Fill us with your living water. Enable us to live out the
values of your kingdom now that others may be filled with your love.