I was watching the news this morning. Guys in power completely corrupt. I wonder how these guys got to power. Then I wonder if it’s just any guy who gets power. As I watch the news – from money laundering, to rape, violence, robbery and war – I realize how radical, how ‘other’ is the gospel of Jesus. While the systems of this world raged on, up and down a ladder of power and money, God was born into a small village in a small country and battled the spirit powers of darkness. Again, the contrast: On one hill hunger games rage and salacious people prowl, and in a valley God himself walks, talks, touches, heals, and takes all darkness into his own blood and spills it on the ground. Death celebrated in the games and careers of man, death defeated outside the camp by Jesus Christ. And since that day, eternal life wars against eternal death, and eternal life has won and will win – to all those who seek God and find him. (Jer 29:13; John 16:11) ‘This is what we speak… explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.’ (1 Corinthians 2:13) A verse I love, a sweeping, silencing truth, is this: ‘The glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.’ (Habbakuk 2:14) I love to look over a still ocean. The waters are deep and wide beyond measure, and silence is all around. Only the wind on the water is heard and felt. Even this is only a picture, a promise, but it has weight. It looks and feels like the violent history of man is no more, sunk and silenced like a sunken ship. There will come a day when I am woken from my sleep, and told in a whisper, that the glory of the Lord has covered the earth, every corner, every scar. I will rise and an angel will walk me out to see the light of God on every path and back road, glowing and covering the air and the ground. Glory everywhere. Healing and silence. Beauty and peace. No danger, pain, sorrow or death. ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… God’s dwelling place is now among the people… He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain… Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God down the middle of the street of the city… No longer will there be any curse… There will be no more night… God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.’ (Revelation 21:1-6; 22:1-5) |
AuthorPeter Walker. I hope you enjoy these reflections. Please feel free to comment!:) Archives
February 2024
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