Read today’s texts first: Ezekiel 40,41; Psalms 128; Revelation 21
The first earth is astounding; imagine how wonderful
the new and improved version will be.
the new and improved version will be.
It’s another day of “coincidences”: both readings feature angelic beings pulling out their measuring tapes (rods actually) and giving us perspective on God’s future rebuilding projects. Ezekiel’s vision focuses just on the temple, while John’s encompasses the whole city of Jerusalem. Both visions include minute details of the building plans. Why are the dimensions of the temple and the New Jerusalem significant?
Having built a few houses, I appreciate how important detailed plans and accurate measurements can be. One of my projects was renovating a 20 year-old house and while doing so, I learned this about myself – I don’t like building on another man’s foundation. When a house isn’t square or level, installing tile, countertops and crown moldings becomes frustrating to say the least. I much prefer starting from scratch and doing it right the first time. Apparently God does too!
No doubt that’s why He’s going to build a new heaven and a new earth. We get a glimpse of how radically different this new creation will be by the cubed shape of the new city of Jerusalem (the K.J. version calls it “foursquare” which means I’m in!). Whoever heard of a city 1500 miles high? The first earth is astounding; I can’t begin to imagine how wonderful the new and improved version will be.
As I thought about God’s re-creation, I realized how He does the same with our lives. We often think that when we come to Christ we are stuck with the imperfect foundations laid by our family circumstances and that all God can do with us is renovate. The Bible disagrees with that idea, reminding us that we are brand new creations; the old has gone and all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17), Any baggage we deal with from our past life is there because we have trouble letting go of the familiar.
“Lord, I want to trust Your ability to completely remake me. Pull out Your measuring tape and redesign me for the next heaven and earth.”
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