East of Eden
2 Peter 3:13-14 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
We live east of Eden, not in Paradise, not yet in a world of eternal peace and bliss, not yet in a world more beautiful than you can imagine, and not yet in bodies that will never experience pain or suffering—not yet.
But, do you think about such a time, about such a world, such a future? Can you? It’s difficult to do. It’s difficult to compare something you can’t imagine to anything you can see or know. But the waiting can be valuable and beneficial to your life today.
An eight year old girl saw something unexpected but perfect as a Christmas present for her grandfather. “Oh,” she exclaimed, “Pappy will love this. He loves gnomes and nutcrackers.” Later she told Pappy, “I have a present for you that you will LOVE!” The joy on her face and the sparkle in her eyes would have been present enough, and the anticipation and waiting for the unveiling helped to maintain their relationship and so too his love for her. The unseen present wasn’t the gift he treasured or filled his life with shalom and joy, it was the love she demonstrated.
God’s promise of a new earth and a new heaven, more beautiful than you can imagine, where you will live in shalom with God, will be fulfilled. (Rev 22:12 "Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.) What deeds? (He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:11) What must we do? (Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matt 22:37-39)
So, in the quiet and near darkness of contemplation, (Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:2) And remember, (the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4b)
The road we are on leads into an unseen future, like a cloudbank and it takes faith to drive on with hope and trust in a living, loving God.