REmarkable God

Recycling began as God's idea first.

Woven into the rhythm of creation is the process of life, death and renewal.

When our our children are very small, we point out brilliant butterflies which symbolize new life. These beautiful insects enter our world with a flash of color after first being hidden in coffin-like cocoons where they transform from clumsy caterpillars.

Every kindergartner brings home a Styrofoam cup, filled with dirt and a promise. A tiny seed-- which when broken and given proper care--brings assurance of something living and green and, at that age, mysterious.

Renewal, rebirth, recycle.

As we study upper level science we learn that no chemical, or even energy itself, is ever truly lost or destroyed. Just broken down and restructured and reused.

Our spiritual life is much the same. The same God who created the world is the God who is always in the business of using the broken pieces of our lives to renew and rebuild.

Redeem, restore, regenerate, resurrect.

In God's economy there is nothing--no hardship or situation--that God cannot use to work for good in our lives.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,

nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 8:37-39)

On a larger scale, our world and culture through the ages cycles through periods of light and dark. It seems that on the heels of sorrow, sickness and war, God brings great seasons of spiritual renewal. Never can that spiritual life be sustained without continued relying on Him. So mankind falls again and out of brokenness we turn to Him, the author of real life and healing.

Our hope and joy is that the end of our world's story has already been written.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away...,

"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."
(Rev 21:1-5)

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