The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

Mystery.

I believe that God is making all things new. I believe that all evil will eventually be eliminated.

• I believe there is coming a day when there will be no more war, no starving children, no migrants in concentration camps, no nationalism or idolatry, no militarism or exploitive capitalism, no greed, no income disparity, no police surveillance states, no death rows, and no prisons. 
• I believe there is coming a time when there will be no slavery, human trafficking, child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, or exploitation of the vulnerable.
• I believe there is coming a time when all racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and misogyny will disappear from the human hearts.
• I believe all sickness, disability, disease, pain, mental illness, pathology, and familial dysfunction will be no more.
• I believe there is coming a time when there will be no hatred, when all people, regardless of gender, skin color, language, or religion will feel welcome.
• I believe there will be an earth void of environmental exploitation and pollution, when every animal, plant, rock and mineral will be valued for its beauty.

• I believe all empires (including the American Empire) are Babylon and will eventually implode.
• I believe there is coming a time when those responsible for wars, starvation, exploitation, and injustice will be held accountable.

• I believe in the resurrection of the dead.
• I believe all who have died will have real, physical, eternal bodies.
• I believe we will forgive all wrongs and embrace universal grace.
• I believe justice, love, peace, and joy will some day encompass all of creation.
• I believe righteousness will cover the earth as water covers the sea.
• I believe children will play safely in the streets and have previously venomous snakes for pets.
• I believe wolves and lambs will lie down together and lions will eat hay with oxen.

I believe God invites me to join God in making all things new.

I believe these things because my God declares them to be true.

Sometimes, I find it hard to believe these things because when I look around, things seem to me moving in the opposite direction.

Sometimes, I find it hard to believe these things because I can’t figure out how God is going to pull it off.

But I choose to believe these things because my God declares them to be true.

How God will make all things new through cruciform love rather than force is a mystery. How is God going to bring about heaven on earth while honoring our freewill? 

The cross is also mystery. How does the willing death of the Son of God on a Roman gibbet crush evil and redeem the world? 

I do not know.

I rest in the mystery. 

God is making all things new whether or not I can see it around me. 

God is making all things new even though I don’t see how.

I rest in the mystery. 

God invites me to join in making all things new. 

How will I do so?