Preparing for the Advent season this year has got me thinking of hope. After all, isn't that what makes the waiting bearable, hope. I can think of no greater hope than the profound truth of the quote above. This realization of the true nature of heaven and earth has rocked my world. This notion of restoration- that God's work from the beginning has been the renewal of this earth, not the ultimate destruction of it in the end- is Hope with a capital H. This truth- that heaven isn't a consolation for the all the terrible things God has "put us through", but rather heaven is God restoring those terrible things, making sense out of it all, giving us in the end what He and I both have always wanted- brings tears to my eyes, a smile to my face, and, quite frankly, a big sigh of relief.
Growing up I was taught the idea that heaven was a consolation to this life. That this evil and ugly world would eventually be destroyed and we would be taken up into the sky where heaven existed amidst the fluffy clouds and bright sun. I'm not for sure why heaven and earth are portrayed that way, maybe this is the idea that makes the most sense to children and is the easiest way of explaining heaven to them. Maybe, but I don't think so. I think this is a very popular idea of heaven and earth, one that many adults (including myself up until a few years ago) still hold today. It's a nice idea, but quite empty in the end. I don't know, I guess it seems wasteful to me. I mean, a whole earth burned up in the end, really? What a waste.
It makes more sense to me, knowing our Creator, that he would want to restore this earth. That heaven would be brought down and would include the resurrected earth. My small mind is still trying to wrap itself around this gigantic truth, but what a thing to ponder, what a truth to wrap around us, what hope to live in every day.
Advent begins tomorrow. The waiting begins. I'm reminded, yet again, how much is worth waiting for.
You and N.T. Wright agree. ;-)
Me too.
Good words!