Revelation 21:1-6.       The New World Order                                    28/4/13

 (1)  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. {2} I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. {3} And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. {4} He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." {5} He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." {6} He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

 We hear, every now and again, of the concept of a New World Order. In other words, a new and better world in which humanity might be able to live at peace with one another and in complete happiness. Communism had that as it’s ideal, just as our current thinking with regard to globalisation seeks after the same ends. There is in this life that constant desire for a better world; a fairer system of government; an easier lifestyle.

 Now here in this reading we are reminded of the New World Order that is not only possible, but is also a reality; and which is there for each and every one of us. This new world and life is that which is not just that which we dream of, but is also much, much better than we could ever imagine or hope for. No more death. No more pain. No more crying. Eternal youth. The very best of everything. Yes it is there, and it is available to all; and it is better than we could ever hope for.

 That being the case then, I am sure we all would want to explore how it can be ours: how we can be a part of it; and what is involved. We surely would want to be a part of it. After all it is what we want, and are desperately searching for from life. And here we told not only of the possibility, but of the reality of it; so surely we will now be seeking to be a part of it.

 However the sad thing is that we all want it, but we want it on our own terms. We in many ways want it without the Lord who goes with it. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden we don’t want to live under God’s authority. We want control of our own little world. We want to do what we want to do without restriction. So instead of accepting what God has for us as a free gift, we try to create it ourselves, with ourselves and our wants as central.

 So what do we find?  As we look across the world scene and history, we find attempt after attempt to create a better world, all the way along. In one form or another it has been sort after and tried, but has failed every time. In recent history we need only think of Hitler and the Nazis, or Communism; but history is full of such examples.

 They have failed because they are human efforts at creating that which we desire, without recognition that there is a flaw in our human nature. We will never be able to achieve what we desire; no matter how good our concept and plan. Human nature being what it is means it will fail. Without God and his forgiveness having a central role it will not work. Our selfishness and self-centredness, and our unpredictableness means that it will never work. History testifies to this fact again and again, every time. Yet we still seek to create this new world order by and for ourselves.

 Now sadly even ‘Christianity’ has also gone down this same track. Across the Church scene there are those who again are trying to create a new and better world. People are being told to be better people; to live more moral lives; with the aim of making this world heaven. Christianity is simply seen as striving to live the good life.

 This too does not work. Because we are sinful people we will not always be able to live as we should, no matter how hard we try. We struggle; we fail; we fall, and then are left shattered. Or else the morality of the nation around us gets worse, and so we withdraw and become self-righteous. For those who make a reasonably good attempt, often they become judgemental toward those who are struggling and failing. Even if we were to do reasonably well, it would not continue for long; pride and selfishness will soon get in the way. History reminds us of this again and again.

 So where does that leave us? In trouble it would seem. Yet we are told we must still try, or we must do the best we can. Many however simply sit back with the attitude; ‘who cares’. But then they and we still look for and expect a better world; a better future. However most of the time it is simply a struggle to get by day after day, and a better future is merely a dream. Yet we know that there has to be some way; some hope. There must be; there needs to be, a better world; a new world order for us to live by.

 And here in this reading we are reminded of what we so desperately are searching for, and what is there, and possible for us. It is not dependent on us having to do anything, or living by certain standards or anything. Although once we know what is ours and that this is not only possible but a certainty for us, we will surely live and act more in keeping with this new world that we are a part of. It is not just some ideal, fanciful world that is not really possible. It is a reality, and it is there for us.

 Here in this reading we are reminded also that it is not just an improved world, but a whole new world; a new heaven and a new earth. The magnificence of it is here likened to a bride ready and prepared to walk down the aisle; looking perfect – beautiful – better than we could ever hope to imagine: A whole new and absolutely remarkable place where God and humanity lives together at peace with one another.

Here is a place where the people that are there will live as God’s people. "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.”  Recognising and acknowledging him for his greatness: Serving him as is fitting and right: Giving him thanks and praise for enabling them to be there. All the while God himself will be visibly there, with his people relating to them, sharing with them, and giving them the best of everything. Here in this new world he will ensure that there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain. All those old and horrible things we experience here in this world will be gone; removed completely. He will give way in excess of what we could ever hope to have: The very, very best; All new and wonderful. All laid on for us.

 This is the new world that lies before us; Freely made available, without any payment or good standard on our part. And we are reminded that these words describing all this are trustworthy and true. This new world order is there for us, guaranteed.

It is all made possible and free for us by our Lord Jesus Christ himself. His death and resurrection which we have been celebrating these last weeks, ensures that it is true and that it is all there for us. His death paid the price for all of our sin; all of our being less that perfect; all of our ignorance and rebellion against God. He was punished in our place so that we might be forgiven, and restored once again into God’s family to enjoy this whole new world with him. He rose again from the dead so that we could know that he is God; that he has defeated the power of death; and to ensure us that there is something far better beyond death for us. All we are called to do is to trust in him who has made it all possible and then live in light of it, with him as the centre and focus of all that we are and all that we do.

 So we are now able to go forward confidently, knowing that this whole new world is there in front of us; that it is there for us. We can now therefore live boldly in the meantime, no matter what the situation might be around us. We can give of ourselves for the benefit of others. Not now simply in order to make this world a better place, but so that others can know of the joy and hope that awaits us in heaven; all made possible by our Lord Jesus Christ. We now want them to know Jesus and to trust in what he has done for us through his life, death, and resurrection. And we can give our all to do so, because we know what eternity has in store for us.

 Yes there is a new world order before us that is truly remarkable. Better than we could ever hope for. Here the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Let us then not turn our backs on our great God and try and set up our own kingdoms that will not work. But instead go forward with hope and confidence as a result of this great promise of this new heaven and a new earth: Where God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Remembering all the time that he who is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end, has promised and made sure that it is all there for us. To him be glory and honour now and for evermore. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish