TAE- WHAT GOD WILL DO WITH HIS CREATION.doc

TAE: WHAT GOD WILL DO WITH HIS CREATION

SMWS- 8/2/09 Text: Colossians 1:15-20

SRBC #

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

1) Unless I miss my guess- and I doubt that I have

A) You’ve probably got a limited understanding of the meaning of Jesus’ death on the Cross

B) The reason I’m sure that’s true is because most evangelical Christians are like that (and to be honest preachers like me are mostly to blame)

2) Think about it: What’s the main thing we stress about Jesus’ death on the Cross?

A) That’s right!

B) Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross has the power to save you from your sin!

1) Which is absolutely, positively right…..

2) But it’s only half of the story

3) The Bible also says that Jesus’ death on the Cross guarantees the redemption- or the restoration- of Creation

Colossians 1:15-20

15 He (meaning Jesus) is the image of the invisible God (unmarred by the stain of sin), the firstborn over all creation.

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, (Now listen to this)

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

4) This is the part of Jesus’ redemptive work on the Cross we don’t talk about very often

A) But we should!

B) Because the appearance of the new heavens and the new Earth will complete God plan of salvation and redemption

5) See here’s where it’s important to remember your ultimate destiny as a born-again believer

A) You’re going to spend eternity in the presence of God in a resurrected body on a resurrected ‘new’ Earth

B) Revelation 21:1-3

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.

6) This is God’s plan in all its glory- the resurrection of Creation

A) It’s a fascinating subject

B) One I want us to think about this morning

7) As we so often do-

A) We’ll begin by going back to the beginning

B) The Bible makes it clear that…..

ALL OF CREATION BELONGS TO GOD

1) When you have some free time you ought to go to www.nasa.gov and look at some of the pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope

A) You’ve probably seen some of these photographs over the years

B) But I’m telling you- they’re nothing short of breathtaking

2) In fact I’ve put together a slideshow of a few of the pictures for you to look at this morning

A) David/Matthew- Click through the images as I begin to read Scripture. There are 10 pictures. Click on a new photograph every four (4) seconds

B) Psalm 19:1-6

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

3) Amen…..What are the first four words in the Bible?

A) Listen for answer

B) Very good! In the beginning God…..

4) You know I guess you can argue the ‘scientific validity’ of the first two chapters of Genesis if you want to

A) But here’s the bottom line- here’s the main thing

B) In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1)

5) We’re talking about everything there is

A) From the smallest subatomic particle to the immensity of the Universe- God created it all

B) For instance: Did you know there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the face of the earth? Amazing- simply amazing

6) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

A) Let me point out one other thing about this verse

B) Genesis 1:1 also establishes who has ownership rights over Creation

7) Listen to what Psalm 24:1-2 says:

1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

8) Now this really isn’t such a hard concept to understand

A) Over the years David Rust has built some beautiful pieces of furniture

1) You should see the roll-top desk he built for his parents- T.C. & Phyllis

2) It is gorgeous

B) Think about this: After David completes a piece of furniture- who owns it?

1) David does- right?

2) He made it- it belongs to him

9) That’s the way it is with Creation. The Bible says…..

A) God made it all

B) It all belongs to Him

10) Now it’s critically important to remember this- because everything we talk about this morning is based on this truth

A) God created the heavens and the earth

B) It all belongs to Him

ADAM & EVE’S DECISION TO SIN AFFECTED ALL OF CREATION

1) As the third chapter begins of the book of Genesis begins…..

A) Adam & Eve have got it made

1) They’re living in paradise on a perfect Earth

2) Everything they need or want is right at their finger tips

B) What’s even better

1) They enjoy a relationship with God we can’t even imagine

2) The Bible says God comes down every day and walks with them in the cool of the day

3) But beginning in chapter 3 everything changes

4) Turn with me to Genesis 3:1-6

1 Now the serpent (in the NT the serpent is identified specifically as Satan) was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (This was the first time Eve had ever heard someone question God’s goodness and love)

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,

3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. (Now the serpent is calling God a liar)

5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (IOW: You won’t need God anymore. You’ll be free to do what you want to do- whenever you want to do it)

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

A) With that act of rebellion- sin entered the world

B) And catastrophe ensured

5) For one thing: Death entered the world

A) See- death was not a part of God’s original plan for His Creation

1) The Bible makes it clear that God planned for Adam & Eve to live forever

2) Death was reserved as a punishment should human beings ever choose to sin

B) Once they did- God had to remain faithful to His word. Look at what He tells Adam in Genesis 3:19

19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

5) A second consequence of Adam & Eve’s decision to sin affected the rest of creation

Genesis 3:17-19

17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

6) It’s important to understand the implications of this passage of Scripture

A) Because of Adam & Eve’s choice- all of creation fell under the curse of sin and death

B) For instance- take all the destructive powers of nature-

1) Earthquakes- tornadoes- volcanoes- drought- hurricanes- tsunamis

2) Most scholars believe these terrible things are the results of the curse sin brought on creation

7) You can also add to that list things like war, violence, injustice, rape, murder, sexual immortality, chemical addiction, prejudice, pornography…..the list goes on and on and on

A) God’s creation torn and tattered and broken

B) By the destructive force of sin and death

GOD’S PLAN: REDEMPTION NOT DESTRUCION

1) In fact, things are so bad that some Christians have concluded that: God should take born-again believers to heaven, and be done with the earth and the rest of creation. Leave all this mess to Satan.

A) People who believe things like that need to recalibrate their faith- need to adjust their thinking

B) Because a God who would wash His hands of His Creation isn’t worthy of your worship or your trust

2) See- here’s the thing:

A) If God doesn’t actively work to resurrect- and restore- His creation…..

1) Then He’s a failure

2) Satan beat Him in the Garden of Eden- before things got started good

B) Granted-

1) He figured a way to save folks who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

2) But if all He can do is take a relatively small percentage of the human race to heaven-

C) That would mean God…

1) Had lost ownership of the creation He made

2) Didn’t have the power to fulfill His original plans and purposes for His Creation

3) How can I put this?..... God is not a failure! Repeat

A) The curse that’s fallen on creation is the result of our sin

1) We’re the failures

2) But our failure didn’t make God a failure

B) Instead- God put into place a plan of redemption that will result in-

1) The restoration

2) The reclamation

3) The resurrection of everything He made

4) Listen to what the Bible says in Genesis 3:14-15

14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

5) This is the first prophecy we find in the Bible concerning the coming of Christ

A) God’s plan of action called for Jesus to come to earth and sacrifice His own life on the Cross

B) So that human beings- and all of Creation- could be reconciled to God

6) In his book Creation Regained Albert Wolters pulls all this together when he says:

(God) hangs on to his fallen creation and salvages it. He refuses to abandon the work of His hands- in fact, He sacrifices His own Son to save His original project. Humankind, which has botched its original mandate (to have dominion over- or mange- creation) and the whole creation along with it, is given another chance in Christ…..(God’s) original good creation is to be restored. (A Wolters Creation Regained, page 58)

7) Scripture references:

Isaiah 65:17: Behold, I will create new (or rejuvenated-or restored) heavens and a new earth.

Isaiah 66:22: ‘As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,’ declares the LORD, ‘so will your name and descendants endure.’

Revelation 21:1 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 Peter 3:13: But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

8) Who do you think gave Peter this promise of a new heaven and a new (or rejuvenated- restored) earth?

A) Listen for answers

B) Yeah! This was something Jesus taught him!

9) Jesus had come to fulfill God’s plan

A) A plan to save you and me from our sins

B) A plan to restore and resurrect the goodness of His creation

10) Listen to what God’s Word says in Revelation 21:5

5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’

A) This is God’s plan

B) And God will complete all of His plans- PERIOD!

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) Keeping all this in mind- let me try and answer some of the questions people frequently ask about the resurrection of creation

When will God resurrect the heavens and the earth?

2) This is a great question- but it’s hard to answer

A) The reason I say that is because it inevitably gets tied up in questions about the millennium, the rapture of the church and End Time prophecy

B) Which are important things for Christians to know about- but they aren’t the focus of this sermon series

1) As I’ve said before- we’re not looking at the countdown to the end of time

2) We’re trying to learn what the Bible says about the eternity that comes after that

3) But anyway- to try and answer the question listen to what Peter says in Acts 3:19-21

19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

20 and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. (Peter is talking about the Second Coming)

21 He (meaning Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

4) I want you to see the connection Peter is making here between:

A) Jesus’ Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the redemption of all Creation

B) Essentially Peter’s saying: It’s all the same event. Jesus will Come Again and you will see God at work- bringing His plan of salvation to completion

5) Now if you want a more specific answer than that

A) I don’t have it- and neither does anyone else

B) Lately there are some Christians who have come to believe that Jesus will return to Earth in 2012

1) They base their belief on some ancient Mayan calendar- which supposedly has the end of time set in the year 2012

2) ……Are you KIDDING me?

6) When the disciples wanted Jesus to give them a specific time and date for His return to Earth He told them:

7 ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’ (Acts 1:7)

7) Here’s the way I look at it:

A) I know that…..

1) Jesus is going to come again

2) The dead in Christ will rise first

3) Those who are alive at that time will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air

2) God will restore the glory of His creation

4) New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband

5) And….God Himself will descend from heaven and make His dwelling with us for all eternity

B) The point I’m trying to make is: I know the ‘what’

1) Why should I worry about the ‘when’?

2) That’s in God’s hands! And that’s good enough for me- how about you?

Will the new Earth look like the Earth looks now?

1) And the answer is: Absolutely yes!

A) No question about it

B) Now let me explain how I’ve come to this conclusion

2) The Bible says that in eternity we’ll live with Jesus on the new Earth (the Greek word translated as ‘new’ means restored or rejuvenated)

A) The fact that God calls our eternal dwelling place the new Earth

B) Is a strong indication the new Earth will look like the Earth we know now

3) Remember the theological principle of continuity

A) Continuity says that what existed before God redeems it, saves it and makes it new- is essentially the same afterwards

B) The principle of continuity is why you can be assured you’ll recognize your loved ones in heaven

1) They will be in their resurrection bodies

2) But they’ll look like they looked before

4) So- let’s apply the principle of continuity to this question concerning the resurrection of earth

A) What’s the implication?

B) The resurrected earth will look like the earth we live on now

5) Finally- go back to Genesis 1:31- when God looked down on what He’d created- what did He say?

A) He said it was very good

B) This meant it perfectly fulfilled all of His plans and purposes…..as it was

1) He didn’t need to tinker with it- or improve it

2) He got it right the first time

6) So when God restores the Earth from the curse of sin and death

A) He won’t have to start from scratch with a brand-new planet

B) He’ll just get rid of the bad stuff- keep what has always been very good and tell us This is your home

7) And we’ll KNOW it’s home because

A) It’ll be beautiful, exciting, dynamic, fascinating and absolutely familiar

B) Just like the Earth is now

Will Time Exist On The New Earth?

1) If you would’ve asked me this question say….6 months ago-

A) I would have told you: Of course not. Time is irrelevant in eternity. We won’t have any watches or calendars on the new Earth

B) Well….problem is I didn’t really know what I was talking about!

2) Turns out the Bible contains many passages that speak about the existence of time in heaven. Randy Alcorn has a number of examples in his book, Heaven

A) Martyrs in heaven are told to wait a little longer when they ask how long before Christ will judge the inhabitants of the Earth

B) God’s people in heaven serve Him day and night in His temple

C) The tree of life on the New Earth will be yielding its fruit every month (There will be days and months in heaven)

D) In Genesis 8:22 God explains His original plan for Creation when He says summer and winter, day and night will never cease

E) Revelation 8:1 speaks of silence in heaven for about half an hour

3) Get the picture? Time- and the passage of time- will be a reality in heaven- on the new Earth

A) Of course, the fact that we’ll also be in eternity- time won’t have quite the same meaning it does now

B) Amazing Grace nails this truth when it says: When we’ve been there ten thousand years- bright shining as the sun. We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun

1) So will there be time in heaven? Yes

2) But it will be time that never ends

4) After my brother and sister-in-law lost their infant son- Bob and I were together. I’ll never forget what he said

A) Throughout Tammy’s pregnancy I’ve regretted that Granny & Papa and Grandma & Paw-Paw wouldn’t get to know David

B) Now I guess they’ll get to know him before I will…..But that’s ok- because I know that someday I’ll get to spend eternity with him

5) Folks- this is why it’s so great to be a born-again believer

A) Time and death will never have the last word on a Christian

B) Jesus will ALWAYS have the last word- and Jesus’ word will be Because I live, you will live also….for all eternity

CONCLUSION

1) But you know- the passing of time in this life can be a terrifying thing

A) Here every tick of the clock

B) Is a reminder you’re one step closer to death than you’ve ever been before

2) In the book of James the Bible offers a strong word of warning about the shortness and uncertainty of this life

13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 5:13-14)

3) This life is very short- and it’s filled with uncertainty

A) Maybe you’ll live for another 75 years

B) Of course it’s possible you could be killed today in a wreck on the way home from church

4) The question is: Where will you spend eternity?

A) If you know Christ as your Savior the answer is: I will be with Jesus in the place God has prepared for me.

B) If you go through life and never ask Jesus to be your Savior the answer is: You will spend eternity in a place of punishment and separation from God called hell.

5) Heaven or hell?

A) What’s it going to be?

B) Let us pray