From the Brink of Destruction
What does God say He will do to those who are destroying the earth?
Revelation 11:18
"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth."
Humans have been selfishly abusing the water, soil, plants, animals and air around them since the beginning. But as our technological prowess has increased, so has our destructiveness. War, deforestation, industrial pollution, wastefulness, greed and shortsightedness are pushing our planet toward the edge, and God is not happy with humanity for mismanaging the planet He has entrusted to us.
How does God personify the emotions of His creation?
Romans 8:21-22
...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
This world was put under man's control (Genesis 1:26), and when humanity chose the way of selfish greed—of sin—the earth also felt the destructive effects.
What has God promised throughout the Bible to stop this cycle of abuse and destruction?
Acts 3:19-21
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
Conversion of people is a necessary step in freeing the earth from the bondage of humanity's destructive choices. Jesus Christ's return will bring a refreshing change, restoring the beauty and harmony of God's creation. By choosing to change (repent and be converted), we can begin that process of restoration in our own lives now!
What Will the Kingdom of God Be Like?
How does the Bible describe the world under the benevolent rule of the Kingdom of God?
Isaiah 51:3
For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
Instead of expanding deserts, the world will become like the idyllic Garden of Eden God first gave to man.
What will the cities and farms of that future world be like?
Amos 9:13-15
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them," says the Lord your God.
Zechariah 8:4-5
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.'"
No longer will war, captivity or disaster cause people to lose the fruits of their efforts. People will work and enjoy the benefits of their labor in a world of sustainable abundance. And cities will be safe for young and old alike.
How does the Bible describe the health of the people in God's Kingdom?
Isaiah 35:5-6
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The persistent human tragedies that have afflicted all generations will finally be removed! Health and vitality will replace the pain and disabilities that afflict so many throughout their lives and all of us as we age. The quality of life will reach heights not experienced since the Garden of Eden.
Will this utopian condition extend even to the wild animals?
Isaiah 11:6-9
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
People will feel safe everywhere, as there will no longer be dangerous jungles or concrete jungles. All of these wonderful conditions are based on the spread of the knowledge of God's way around the world. Acting on this knowledge will be the cause of peace and prosperity then, and it can bring great benefits to our lives now (see 1 Timothy 4:8).
Apply what you've learned
Jesus Christ's return and the Kingdom of God are the only real hope for the future. But these wonderful promises from God are not just about the future. They should transform our lives now. Matthew 6:33 is a pivotal scripture many Christians have committed to memory. Read and deeply consider this verse and the priorities and direction it gives to your life today.
For example, how does it affect what you pray most about (see Matthew 6:10)? How does it affect your entertainment, spending and giving choices (see Matthew 6:19-24)? How can this approach decrease your worry (see Matthew 6:25-34)?
Write down two things you will do starting today to put higher priority on preparing for the Kingdom of God and living by the laws of that Kingdom (His righteousness, defined by His commandments; Psalm 119:172; Exodus 20:1-17).
Reprinted with permission. Published by United Church of God, an International Association, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027. © 2014 United Church of God.
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