The promise of new life
One of my favorite readings from the Bible comes from the Book of Revelation. This passage occurs near the end of the book, and contains a promise of new life that embraces life before death, and life beyond death.
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,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples,
And God himself will be with them;
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
For the first things have passed away.’
And the one who was seated on the throne said,
‘See, I am making all things new.’
The promise of new life lies at the heart of the Christian message. It was new life that Jesus brought into the world through his teaching, his touch and his insight. And the Christian message spread throughout the Roman Empire because the good news of Jesus Christ continued to be alive and at large after his death. What Jesus had made possible during his lifetime, the Spirit continued (and continues) to bring into the world through his followers.
The good news of the Gospel is that we can live again, even when we feel that something in us has died or become lost. At times in my life when I feel as if my actions have harmed others, or that my life has been an obstacle to their growth or happiness, I try to remember that in Christ I am forgiven and called to receive new life. That newness then enables me to express to others the same grace with which I have been received and embraced by God. “Be perfect as God is perfect,” says Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke. In other words, having received the compassion of God in our lives, treat others with precisely that same kind of trust and truth.
I have realized over the years that receiving the new life promised by God is not a guarantee of happiness, nor a pledge of protection, nor a pathway to immortality. In fact, as we become more open to the life of God in our lives we may feel that we have become more vulnerable. We drop the protective shield of bitterness and instead take up the possibilities of forgiveness. We choose not to return violence for violence, but instead explore non-violent alternatives to injustice. We decide not to plan every moment in every day as an exercise of control, but open ourselves to the subtle promptings of the Spirit. The Spirit of life and love can not guarantee safety; but it can inspire in us the irresistible power of love.
May the God of life fill us with new life; and may we be open to that resurrection power until our lives are filled with the fullness of God.
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