A Brighter Day

God’s creation displays profound beauty, but it also displays deep brokenness. All is not well.

For every blossom bloomed, another withers away. The fields of soft Spring grass now also yield thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). The creation, while still speaking of God’s glory, now also speaks of our great sin. For the original sin of mankind brought a curse on the earth (Genesis 3:17). We now live at odds with nature, parched by drought, buffeted by winds, crushed by storms, and haunted by death. Where once our relationship to nature could have been described as a man in a tranquil garden, we now live in a struggle, trying hard to survive and work nature in our favor.

But Hope springs anew.

In the redemption Christ secures for us, He also wins redemption for creation. Paul writes one day “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). So the creation will share in the freedom Christ has won.

The renewal of creation will be glorious. The Apostle John had a vision of that future day. Here’s how he describes what he saw:

“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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.'” (Revelation 21:1-5)

Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, also anticipated the renewal of the earth. He wrote of the peace of the new earth in this way:

“‘The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 65:25)

Amazing! Even the predator and the prey will live as one flock.

So then, see today the wide scope of salvation. Christ on the cross has not only redeemed us, but he has redeemed broken creation. Every thorny branch will one day be lopped off. Every tear will be wiped away. Death will die.

Let the renewal of Spring time remind you of the ultimate renewal to come.