From Tragedy, Hope Emerges
(Read Revelation 21)
God makes us all different and equally wonderful in His image. He made me a bit of a procrastinator. I had a huge project that I was late on delivering, you guessed it, partly due to procrastination. In order to deliver the presentation the next morning on September 11, 2001, I had to pull an all-nighter.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Revelation 21:1-2
Most Bible scholars, believe that Revelation was written by the Apostle John while he was exiled on the Island of Patmos in modern day Greece. Revelation was a detailed message from Jesus told to John in a vivid dream. John’s fellow disciples had already been martyred and due to continued anti-Christian persecution, Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus banished him to a secluded island. He would remain there for the rest of his life.
While listening to a comedic radio show that next morning, I heard them discussing a breaking story about some plane or planes crashing into the World Trade Center. The story was sketchy at the time. I instantly clicked on the TV in my office to see what was going on. The footage was horrific. The two tall skyscrapers were smoking and violent flames exploded out of them. I wasn’t even listening to the news anchors because I was in shock. A little while later, I watched the New York City skyline, a comforting, familiar sight from my childhood, change forever. The South Tower collapsed at 9:59am that sunny Tuesday morning, then the North Tower 29 minutes later.
According to Revelation, the old world, with all of its problems, will pass away. In the Greek language, there are two words for “new.” Neos means “brand new” and kainos means “remade.” Kainos is the word used in John’s Revelation text. Many permanent scars were created in Manhattan and on Earth that day. But sometimes from tragedy, hope emerges. The next verse in this chapter of Revelation describes a beautiful Holy City coming down out of heaven in full glory. I hold this to be a clear sign of incomparable and unchanging hope from an eternal promise.
The scenes from the smoke and dust on my TV changed to flames erupting outside the western side of the Pentagon. I remember looking up in the sky and asking, “What the heck is going on?” An answer from God fueled my next step. I remember the clarity of my change in heart like a lightning strike. I realized that I will always be incapable of protecting my family in this big and fallen world. After all, I always assumed the Pentagon was impenetrable, just like people thought the Titanic was unsinkable. So, I thought if someone or some people can attack the Pentagon, is there anything I can do to keep my family safe from bigger threats? I got down on my knees, bowed my head, and surrendered my life right then to Jesus Christ. I asked Him to be in charge of my life.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-5
American author Ellen White once wrote that, “This earth is the place of preparation for heaven.” Revelation 21 provides us the ultimate affirmation of God’s restoration. Could it mean restoration of the Earth or does it refer to our restoration? Our world changed forever when Adam and Eve betrayed God’s command. Ever since that time, we have required a fix to make us right before God, a fix to make the world right with God. We need a restoration.
Our church organized a prayer service two days later. I got a call from our Pastor who asked if I would read Revelation 21 to the congregation. He and I grew up in the shadows of the World Trade Center and he knew the personal loss I was feeling. Up until that moment, my service to our church was mostly behind the scenes. I’d help out Ushering and greeting visitors and would also volunteer to assist with events, but what I offered was always “from a distance” serving. The thought of reading to our congregation, made me cringe, but I knew it was something I had to do. My old self would have said that it was an extraordinary time and it called for extraordinary effort on my part. My surrendered self realized that this was bigger than me, but that it wasn’t about me. It was about consolation, healing, and restoration. What captures this better than John’s words in Revelation?
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
Revelation 21:6-7
God was speaking to John directly from the throne. In Revelation, He was reassuring us that he will finish the work He set out to complete. When all things are made new, they will stay new. No more decay. No pain. No more tears. I have learned that I need to receive faith, like drinking in fresh spring water. Looking to Jesus for life saving faith doesn’t earn merit, but it does show humble openness to His plans for us.
Over the next days, weeks, months, and years my life took on a whole new meaning. I started finding new hope in every piece of scripture I’d read. I stopped worrying so much about what I could control in my life and my family’s life. My priorities were simplified but prayer and quiet time, like being present with God and listening to His advice, became so much more colorful. Significance in my life transitioned from what do other people think to what does Jesus want?
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
Revelation 21:22-25
Then one day many years later, I found myself in a tight place in my life. Business was slow and stressing me out. Worry was overtaking my trust in God’s plan. One night, a close friend encouraged me to join him at a men’s study group at his church. I was introduced to a brilliant, articulate guy with a witty sense of humor at a Men’s study group. We shared personal stories about our fears and challenges to other brothers in Christ, many of whom were experiencing similar problems. We were all in the same boat watching as Jesus walked on the water.
Today, I find myself helping writing devotions with my friend for his ministry. Truth be told, I really didn’t want to go to the first Men’s group study. I had lots of excuses why I shouldn’t go. But I went anyway. This opportunity has put more light in my life than I ever imagined. I let go of my own control and traded for what Jesus Christ had in store for me.
Fortunately for all of us, Christ promises to make all things new. If we are willing to let our Redeemer make all things new in our hearts, we are also giving Him the nod to make all things new in our lives. I’m still a broken soul, but since I have given my life to Christ, I consider Him first. I worry about His acceptance first. I thank Him for His grace first, before anything else, and every other aspect of my life is better because of this.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
Key Applications:
- Do you have a pivotal moment in your faith journey? Most people don’t. But, consider one point when you really contemplated what Jesus would want you to do over what your earthly body is telling you to do. When faced with this kind of decision. Pause and pray.
- How do you serve Jesus Christ and your church? Do you serve your church? Consider one task, one tiny thing you can do to improve your local church. If we don’t serve, we are customers, not worshippers. There are many ways to serve: teach, lead, sing, play, watch, encourage, and love. Pick one.
- Look for areas in your life that were once darkness but are now light. If you don’t see any, look harder. God works things for good for His glory. Before saying no to God-inspired opportunity, think again. Say yes and look for change in your heart.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.