Series: The Radical Call of Jesus
Message: Radical Hope
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Daily Walk: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 107:1–9.

Read: Revelation 21:1–22:21 (Message). Note 1–3 insights or questions that arise from the paraphrase. 

Reflect:  I think the big shocker for some people is that heaven is coming here instead of the usual idea of us going to heaven. Maybe that is just a result of the folklore or legends that have been woven into our narratives and expectations for the future. Or maybe from the too many scratched records that many of us have heard played from our early childhoods. When I was a kid, my parents used to open the celebration of Sabbath each Friday evening with music by Tennessee Ernie Ford, the Golden Gate Quartet, and Jim Reeves. It was Reeves who sang about how this world was not his home—and I would sing along with him. Those lyrics sank into my psyche and into my theology for a while. These kinds of experiences may affect quite a few of you, too—in terms of your ideas about heaven. These ideas, in turn, affect the way you approach the world now.

For instance, if you believe that heaven is coming here to earth and that Jesus will recreate this entire planet, why in the world would we bother to care for the environment? Conversely, if we are all going to heaven and this planet will be left desolate, why do we bother to care for the environment? 

What I read from John, is that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit have decided to recreate heaven and earth. They have decided that this planet, which was created by them, was once hijacked by Satan and has been abused and destroyed is worth restoring. It is worth investing in. The people that they created are worthy of having their original home rebuilt to its original glory and, in fact, deserve to even have a couple of fancy upgrades! One of those upgrades includes moving heaven from wherever it is right now to here! 

I don’t know about you, but I look forward to—in the twinkling in of an eye—having my body recreated and restored to what Jesus intended for it to be. This does not mean that I should just let it go to waste now and accept that I will die tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to seeing this planet not having to deal with the abuse and waste we throw at it every single day. I want to see it produce beauty and life-sustaining crops beyond my imagination, but until that day, for my generation and the generations to come, I believe God’s creation is worthy of being repaired and protected. It was created by Jesus and we should look after it. 

Recalibrate: ​​​What has Jesus given value to that you have undervalued?

Respond: Pray for the vision to appreciate more. 

Research: What can you do to make your work/school/church more environmentally friendly?