I think knowing the end helps me relax and trust God more in the middle process. I can feel anxiety about not knowing what I am to do/be, but looking at this end where God makes it all new, puts me in a place where I can be ok with the unknown middle.
I have become so accustomed to living in the “already” (Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again)... it baffles me to think of what a world where actual Teleios is happening would look like. My eyes have been trained to see beauty in the brokenness and learn from mistakes and try to find the helpers and the silver lining... would that even be a thing in the “not yet?”
I also feel uncomfortable thinking about “being placed in charge”... I never like the idea of Christians perceiving themselves as “better than others”... so I think I’m viewing it incorrectly and maybe “in charge” looks drastically different in a teleios world?
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”
Here I get the image of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
“ and the sea was no more.”
Maybe not literally so. The sea separates dry land, so maybe this is a metaphor for a joining of all peoples from all places, a removal of separation.
“prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
I love the imagery of this. I think about the meticulous planning, preparation, and anticipation that goes into a wedding, into that first look that stays in your memory for a lifetime. The idea that heaven itself waits in anticipation for us is overwhelming.
“ the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples”
Y’all know that song by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, “home is wherever I’m with you 🎵”? I feel that here. God loved us enough to create a garden to share with us, showed us how to create the tabernacle so he could be with us after the fall, sent his son Jesus to live among us, shared the Holy Spirit with us, and eventually, will just… be with us once and for all. There is no end to God’s love.
Thank you guys for sharing your reactions to scripture readings. It’s really helped me to try to figure out my own feelings. Thank you Alex for this very useful scripture challenge. I’m getting so much out of it.
I tend to shy away from reading Revelation but today's message was so so good. I love the part from Bob Johnson that says, "Simply put, to love God and love others." What a beautiful direction and destination!! I'll be thinking about this one for awhile.
I think knowing the end helps me relax and trust God more in the middle process. I can feel anxiety about not knowing what I am to do/be, but looking at this end where God makes it all new, puts me in a place where I can be ok with the unknown middle.
Beth I think I need you to mentor me. I love your insight and perspective on scripture!! Thank you for sharing.
I have become so accustomed to living in the “already” (Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again)... it baffles me to think of what a world where actual Teleios is happening would look like. My eyes have been trained to see beauty in the brokenness and learn from mistakes and try to find the helpers and the silver lining... would that even be a thing in the “not yet?”
I also feel uncomfortable thinking about “being placed in charge”... I never like the idea of Christians perceiving themselves as “better than others”... so I think I’m viewing it incorrectly and maybe “in charge” looks drastically different in a teleios world?
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away”
Here I get the image of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
“ and the sea was no more.”
Maybe not literally so. The sea separates dry land, so maybe this is a metaphor for a joining of all peoples from all places, a removal of separation.
“prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
I love the imagery of this. I think about the meticulous planning, preparation, and anticipation that goes into a wedding, into that first look that stays in your memory for a lifetime. The idea that heaven itself waits in anticipation for us is overwhelming.
“ the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples”
Y’all know that song by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, “home is wherever I’m with you 🎵”? I feel that here. God loved us enough to create a garden to share with us, showed us how to create the tabernacle so he could be with us after the fall, sent his son Jesus to live among us, shared the Holy Spirit with us, and eventually, will just… be with us once and for all. There is no end to God’s love.
Thank you guys for sharing your reactions to scripture readings. It’s really helped me to try to figure out my own feelings. Thank you Alex for this very useful scripture challenge. I’m getting so much out of it.
Thankful you are enjoying the challlenge! Love the “image of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.”
I tend to shy away from reading Revelation but today's message was so so good. I love the part from Bob Johnson that says, "Simply put, to love God and love others." What a beautiful direction and destination!! I'll be thinking about this one for awhile.
Yes I love the way Bob puts it so succinctly!