×

A Prayer About Our Sea-less, Chaos-less Future

     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. Revelation 21:1

     Loving Father, as fresh coffee helps me transition from a good night’s sleep into a new day’s mercies (Lam. 3:22-24), so your Word is quickening all of my senses. As you greet me this morning with your steadfast love, I can hear the roar of waves breaking along the Atlantic coast. It’s a glorious morning—one which connects me with John’s hope-filled vision of our sea-less future.

     I praise you that this very cosmos… this very earth… this very beach… has been bought back by Jesus.  I praise you that, even as you’re presently redeeming your big family from the nations, so you’re restoring the world in which you placed us.

     As surely as the waters cover the sea, so the knowledge of your glory will cover the earth one Day (Habakkuk 2:14). The “passing away” of the first heaven and the first earth doesn’t speak of its replacement, but its restoration… to which I say a very loud, “Hallelujah!”

     I smile really, really big when I try to image the glorified beaches of the new heaven and new earth.” I can hardly wait for Day when I get to hear “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing: ‘to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!’”

     Father, I’m so glad John’s vision isn’t about a beach-less future, but a “sea-less” one—an eternity and a world devoid of all chaos and evil. There won’t be any more brokenness, only beauty… no more angry leviathan, only dancing dolphin… no more tempest, only the triumph of the Lamb!

     I can barely imagine this glorious state of affairs, but may John’s vision motivate us to engage, not retreat from the systemic evil in our world… to show up, not disappear from the chaos of our culture… to be filled with missional hope and gospel-servanthood as we seek first your kingdom and the righteousness that is by faith.

     Yes Father, may our churches become a preview of coming attractions as we live in light of the great Day of cosmic renewal. May the gospel of your grace set the agenda, and free us for loving our neighbors and welcoming strangers. May our great hope translate into observable servanthood and compassionate caring. So very Amen, we pray, in the name of our resurrected and reigning King, Jesus.

LOAD MORE
Loading