DAY 7: Drawing it all together

You could easily write a week’s study on each of these topics! Use this seventh day to revisit some of the questions and insights that most disturbed or inspired you this week. What was it about them that you found difficult (or encouraging)? What are you going to do as a result?

It might help to have a reminder of the end of the story: Revelation 21 paints a beautiful picture of what the new creation will look like. God dwells with his people, who likewise dwell peacefully with one another, and ‘there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ What a beautiful ending to the story!

Remember – the end is certain. But we’re not there yet. Until that time, there will always be brokenness and failure to contend with, that of others and our own. Nevertheless, what we do now resonates into eternity – our efforts can be part of God’s restoration project.

Scripture: Revelation 21:3–4 (NIV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Reading question:

Tom Wright says, ‘Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.’ How can you bring the life of heaven – where God dwells with his people and they with him – to your bit of earth today?

Reflection question:

To bring it back to the beginning of this study: what can you do today that will last into eternity?

This devotional was based on the ideas and excerpts from the book The Hopeful Activist by Richard Gower and Rachel Walker. Further reading can be found here: The Hopeful Activist