Living for a new day

With the Boston Marathon bombing yesterday and my grandfather's funeral today, I thought it only appropriate to reflect on the grief and confusion that we feel in this world.

Events like the Boston Marathon bring to the forefront the brokenness that we live in and call us to respond. We see neighbors or fellow citizens taking action and putting aside personal needs to generously give their support.

When sad or shocking things happen, we cry because we know the world is not meant to be this way. Yet we respond because we hope.

We hope in community. We hope in restoration. We have an Ultimate Hope.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"
Matthew 6:10

When we face hardships in life, it's easy to be anxious about the "whys" and "what ifs."

In a recent Tim Keller sermon, he defines "anxiety" as the Greek word meaning "drawn in opposite directions, divided into parts, to go to pieces because pulled apart in different directions." This is the word that Jesus uses to describe Martha when she is busying herself around the house: "You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary"  (Luke 10:38-42).

Rather than being distracted and pulled in all different directions, our peace and hope should have a sole focus: "one thing is necessary." Our one hope and supreme peace should be focused on God. 

We are able to live in the present, and practice presence, because we have a singular look at the future.

We are living for a new and glorious day.

We can continue responding to injustices that happen around us every day because of our ultimate hope and peace. Our assurance is in a new heaven that is coming to earth because God is making all things new.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” -Revelation 21:1-5