And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord (Isa. 66:23).
In the nineteenth century a book appeared entitled Looking Backward: 2000-1887. It is an imaginary picture of the earth several centuries in the future, described by a man who lives still further in the future. Why not a good book called Looking Further Forward--way beyond the accomplishments of humanity, to the glorious future of God's promise? And what better text could there be for such a book than our promise text for today?
Life on that renewed earth, which will be the home of the redeemed of all ages, will be a social life, a busy life, a life of worship and praise to God. "From one new moon to another," that is, from month to month, there will be great gatherings of God's people. "And from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before" God.
This eternal and wonderful home is for those of faith. It is for those who by grace are saved from the condemnation, the power, and at last the presence, of sin. This is the victory of the cross. Jesus died to redeem not only humanity but "that which was lost" (Matt. 18:11), which includes the lost world and lost nature itself. Even today "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together. Even we ourselves groan...waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:22, 23).
Let us be joyful in anticipation of it. "Look up, look up, and let your faith continually increase. Let this faith guide you along the narrow path that leads through the gates of the city into the great beyond, the wide, unbounded future of glory that is for the redeemed" (Prophets and Kings, p. 732).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles" (Ps. 43:3).
In the nineteenth century a book appeared entitled Looking Backward: 2000-1887. It is an imaginary picture of the earth several centuries in the future, described by a man who lives still further in the future. Why not a good book called Looking Further Forward--way beyond the accomplishments of humanity, to the glorious future of God's promise? And what better text could there be for such a book than our promise text for today?
Life on that renewed earth, which will be the home of the redeemed of all ages, will be a social life, a busy life, a life of worship and praise to God. "From one new moon to another," that is, from month to month, there will be great gatherings of God's people. "And from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before" God.
This eternal and wonderful home is for those of faith. It is for those who by grace are saved from the condemnation, the power, and at last the presence, of sin. This is the victory of the cross. Jesus died to redeem not only humanity but "that which was lost" (Matt. 18:11), which includes the lost world and lost nature itself. Even today "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together. Even we ourselves groan...waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:22, 23).
Let us be joyful in anticipation of it. "Look up, look up, and let your faith continually increase. Let this faith guide you along the narrow path that leads through the gates of the city into the great beyond, the wide, unbounded future of glory that is for the redeemed" (Prophets and Kings, p. 732).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles" (Ps. 43:3).
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