From Garden to City: God's Promise of Renewal

Devotional

Day 1: God's Promise of Restoration and Renewal

The vision of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering promise to restore and renew creation. This vision draws us back to the Garden of Eden, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan from creation to new creation. It assures us that God will dwell with His people, wiping away every tear and abolishing death and pain. This promise is not just a future hope but a present reality that shapes how we live today. As we anticipate the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, we are encouraged to live with hope and assurance, knowing that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [02:55]

Isaiah 65:17-19 (ESV): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience God's restoration and renewal? How can you invite Him into that area today?

Day 2: Participating in God's Redemptive Work

The imagery of the new Jerusalem as a garden reminds us of the original mandate given to Adam to tend and expand the garden. Through Christ, the second Adam, the restoration of all things is set in motion, reversing the curse and beginning the work of new creation. This calls us to participate in God's redemptive work, living as agents of His kingdom. We are invited to join in the mission of expanding God's garden, bringing His love, justice, and peace to the world around us. As we engage in this work, we reflect the hope and glory of the new creation, living distinctively in a world that often opposes the kingdom of God. [07:34]

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's redemptive work in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to reflect His kingdom values?

Day 3: Assurance in the Consummation of God's Purposes

John's vision is filled with vivid pictures, a mosaic of Old Testament imagery, revealing the consummation of God's purposes. The fall of Babylon, the defeat of the dragon, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom assure us that despite the present reality of living in a world that lies in the evil one, the future is secure in Christ. This assurance gives us confidence to face the challenges of today, knowing that God's ultimate victory is certain. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are reminded that our hope is anchored in the unshakeable promises of God, and we can trust in His sovereign plan. [11:46]

Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV): "I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."

Reflection: In what ways can you find assurance in God's ultimate victory over evil? How does this assurance impact your daily life and decisions?

Day 4: Living in the Tension of the Now and the Not Yet

As we live in the tension between the now and the not yet, we are called to live as those who have seen the world to come. Our lives should reflect the hope and glory of the new creation, living distinctively in a world that often opposes the kingdom of God. We are to be a people marked by holiness, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and living unreservedly for Christ. This calling challenges us to embody the values of the kingdom in our everyday lives, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel in how we love, serve, and engage with others. [40:12]

1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV): "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: What is one specific way you can live out the values of the kingdom in your daily interactions this week? How can you be a witness to the hope and glory of the new creation?

Day 5: The Fulfillment of God's Covenant Promises

The promise that God will wipe away every tear and abolish death and mourning speaks to the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises. This vision offers hope and comfort, reminding us that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. It encourages us to persevere in faith, knowing that Christ is making all things new. As we hold onto this promise, we are strengthened to endure the trials of life, confident that God's faithfulness will see us through to the end. [32:22]

Revelation 7:16-17 (ESV): "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Reflection: How can you find comfort in the promise of God's ultimate fulfillment of His covenant promises? In what ways can you share this hope with someone who is struggling today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through Revelation 21, we are invited to witness the profound vision of a new heaven and a new earth, a vision that encapsulates the culmination of God's redemptive plan. This passage draws us back to the beginning, to the Garden of Eden, where humanity's story began. The narrative of the Bible is a journey from a garden to a city, from creation to new creation, and Revelation 21 offers a glimpse of the restoration and renewal that God promises.

The Apostle John, in his vision, sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. This imagery is rich with symbolism, pointing to the intimate relationship between God and His people. The promise that God will dwell with His people, wiping away every tear, and abolishing death, mourning, and pain, speaks to the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises.

The vision of the new Jerusalem is not just a city but a garden, a return to the paradise lost in Eden. This imagery reminds us of the original mandate given to Adam to tend and expand the garden, a task that was marred by sin. Yet, through Christ, the second Adam, the restoration of all things is set in motion. Jesus, in His life, death, and resurrection, reverses the curse and begins the work of new creation.

John's vision is filled with vivid pictures, a mosaic of Old Testament imagery, revealing the consummation of God's purposes. The fall of Babylon, the defeat of the dragon, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom are depicted in dramatic fashion. This vision assures us that despite the present reality of living in a world that lies in the evil one, the future is secure in Christ.

As we live in the tension between the now and the not yet, we are called to live as those who have seen the world to come. Our lives should reflect the hope and glory of the new creation, living distinctively in a world that often opposes the kingdom of God. We are to be a people marked by holiness, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and living unreservedly for Christ, knowing that He is making all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. The vision of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 is a powerful reminder of God's promise to restore and renew creation. It points us back to the Garden of Eden, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan from creation to new creation. This vision assures us that God will dwell with His people, wiping away every tear and abolishing death and pain. [02:55]
2. The imagery of the new Jerusalem as a garden reminds us of the original mandate given to Adam to tend and expand the garden. Through Christ, the second Adam, the restoration of all things is set in motion, reversing the curse and beginning the work of new creation. This calls us to participate in God's redemptive work, living as agents of His kingdom. [07:34]
3. John's vision is filled with vivid pictures, a mosaic of Old Testament imagery, revealing the consummation of God's purposes. The fall of Babylon, the defeat of the dragon, and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom assure us that despite the present reality of living in a world that lies in the evil one, the future is secure in Christ. [11:46]
4. As we live in the tension between the now and the not yet, we are called to live as those who have seen the world to come. Our lives should reflect the hope and glory of the new creation, living distinctively in a world that often opposes the kingdom of God. We are to be a people marked by holiness, washed in the blood of the Lamb, and living unreservedly for Christ. [40:12]
5. The promise that God will wipe away every tear and abolish death and mourning speaks to the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises. This vision offers hope and comfort, reminding us that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. It encourages us to persevere in faith, knowing that Christ is making all things new. [32:22]
** [32:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction to the Theme
[01:21] - Revelation 21: A New Heaven and Earth
[02:12] - Gratitude to Ligonier Staff
[02:55] - The Vision of the New Jerusalem
[04:28] - From Garden to Wilderness
[05:18] - The Pilgrim's Progress
[06:03] - John's Vision of Restoration
[07:34] - The Mandate of the Garden
[08:24] - The Tragedy of the Fall
[10:08] - The Picture Book of Revelation
[11:46] - The Fall of Babylon
[13:26] - Living in the Present World
[15:04] - The Story of the New Garden
[17:33] - Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
[20:49] - The Resurrection and New Creation
[23:14] - The Reversal of the Past Day
[24:45] - The Glory of the Future Day
[27:37] - What is Not in the New World
[30:55] - The Hope Beyond Death
[34:39] - No More Temple, All is Temple
[36:24] - The Bride and the Bridegroom
[38:50] - Living for Christ in the Present
[40:12] - The Call to Holiness
[42:18] - Assurance in Christ
[43:50] - A Personal Encounter
[45:42] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"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.'" [00:03:03]

"As we look at the new Jerusalem, it is almost as though the picture seems to change a little and we discover that the new Jerusalem is actually itself a garden. And we realize almost immediately that what is happening at the end of the Bible is taking us back to where we were at the beginning of the Bible." [00:03:57]

"And so, he, as it were, is taken back here to the Garden of Eden to the day when Adam was told to tend the garden and to nurture the garden. It seems fairly clear to me that the telos, the goal to which Adam's ministry is tending is that this little garden he has been given as the image of God is a garden that he is to extend." [00:07:17]

"The whole drama of Revelation is the drama that, in a sense, begins with the serpent, but by the time we are in the first century, the serpent has grown into a dragon, and the dragon has brought forth a beast, and the beast has brought forth together with the dragon a false prophet. And together, this anti-Trinity, this ungodly trinity has brought forth an entire kingdom, an entire dominion, an entire city that is hostile to God called Babylon." [00:11:19]

"And the story towards the end of the book of Revelation is the way in which through Jesus Christ that city and the unholy trinity that lies behind that city will be systematically disarmed and systematically brought into its own wilderness, a fiery wilderness in the burning lake of sulfur." [00:12:11]

"And the whole story of the gospel tells us about the reverse of that; how Jesus comes into the wilderness to face the tempter who has now grown into a dragon because he has consumed so many. And conquering him in the wilderness, then slowly makes His way to the Garden of Gethsemane." [00:17:22]

"And in the Garden of Gethsemane, He faces the very same issue that Adam and Eve had faced. There is a cup that has been placed in His hands. This cup is the cup of experiencing being desolated by God. This cup is the cup of experiencing divine desertion under divine wrath." [00:17:54]

"And like Adam and Eve, but in radical contrast, there is nothing in this cup that Jesus can desire. There is nothing about this cup that would be attractive to Him. There is nothing in this cup that would say. 'Drink me.' And indeed, from one point of view, if Jesus had naturally desired desertion by God bearing the wrath of God, it is scarcely possible that He could have been a holy human being." [00:18:24]

"And then, as Paul says, leading the resurrected dead to the throne of His Heavenly Father as their Savior, as their representative, as the second man and the last Adam, and saying to His Father, 'It is finished. Here we are. We offer this resurrected, restored, renewed creation to You.' That leads Paul to make the awesome statement, 'And then the Son will be submissive to the Father,' not ontologically, obviously, submissive, he has been speaking about our Lord Jesus as the second man and the last Adam, but as the mediator, as our representative He will say to the Father, 'Father, I finished it. Here we are, we offer it to you. And I will lead them in worship of You so that God may be all in all.'" [00:26:29]

"And the great message is we live in this world as those who have seen the world to come, as those who understand where this world first of all came from, and where it has fallen and how the tragedy is that we have lost the glory of God. And the wonder of the gospel is that it is beginning to restore that glory, which means inevitably that the Christian believer will be radically different, modestly different, but so different that the Christian church and the Christian believer will be able to cease the ploys of twentieth-century evangelism in trying to find ways of getting my questions to non-Christians, which was almost the necessity of twentieth-century evangelism, for this reason that non-Christians were not doing what apparently non-Christians were doing in Peter's day, so that Christians needed to be ready to give an answer and a reason for the hope that was in them because non-Christians were driven to ask, 'Why is it that you're so different from us? Why do we find you so strange?'" [00:40:21]

"And here, John understands in the privation he experiences, in the challenges that these churches in Asia are going to experience, that the call is to wash their robes in the blood of Christ in chapter 22, to pursue holiness in the face of persecution, and to live unreservedly for Christ. And he gives this assurance that Christ will keep us and that Christ is waiting for us." [00:42:12]

"And He is making all things new, and we are being sent out now, are we not, to live for His glory?" [00:45:28]

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