Shopping for replacement clothes!

Shopping

We love it here in America...shopping! It has become a spectator sport. One does not shop alone...one takes a buddy and you look together, try on pieces and ensembles, and walk the runway of the dressing room for evaluation by said buddy as to the fit, style, and appropriateness for the occasion. It is not that we have nothing else to wear, but we have to change out our clothes once in a while. We assess our wardrobe and determine that certain things have worn out and are no longer appropriate for general use.

Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and your years will not come to an end. Psalm 102:25-27

New heaven and new earth...that is what is needed. The old earth, we understand, needs to be traded out for a new one. We see the mold, mildew, rot and decay. We see death, dying (which can be worse than death sometimes), lying, cheating, and stealing. We understand that this is not how life was meant to be lived. God sees that and promises that He will again create a new earth that will reflect His glory eternally. Satan will never set foot (or scale) there to lead us to question God's goodness and protection in our lives. He will never let Satan set foot (or wing) in heaven to challenge God's favor for people on earth (like Job). It will be perfect.

Now, you may wonder why He can't or won't just clean up the heaven and earth that are there now. Can't He just wave a magic wand and make these places better? Let me ask you...don't garments wear out to the point that they cannot serve their purpose? Why do we replace them and what do we replace them with? Do we not look for something better, newer, more stylish, more fitting to our constantly changing figures? My shape is not what it was 20 years ago, let alone 4000 years ago, like the earth. There will be no more sea in heaven...for some reason the only water we read of is the river of life flowing from under the throne. Things will be different because the need for them is over. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and symbolism has been used. I do not wear my wedding dress any more. I am married and to wear it again is really not acceptable. People would think I was crazy. It was designed for a specific occasion for a specific purpose. Once it was fulfilled, it became something to see in pictures, and to look at with fond memories (and marvel that I was once that small). But it is no longer necessary. It could be thrown out and not really matter. But it has been changed for clothing that was needed as the result of that occasion, like maternity clothes, which again, serve their purpose for a short time. There are times when the clothes just wear out. They are worn to death, to the point where the stresses of life take their toll. They are replaced with something that will allow us to continue to do the stuff of life.

So why settle for the things of this earth and of the heavens above when God knows that even though they were VERY GOOD, they were not all that there could be, and He knew that from the beginning. He refers to the coming heaven and earth from the beginning! He knew the wear and tear we would place on this world and that it would forever mar the glory it was supposed to reflect. I have seen over the past few weeks that places where tragic things happen are destroyed. They tore down the house in Cleveland where the man held girls captive for years and years, schools where children were killed are being replaced with new schools. The twin towers area have become a memorial, not new buildings. We have terrible memories associated with the old thing, and the sin is so vile that we cannot let it exist. On this earth Christ was murdered, death took hold of almost every human, and tragedy takes place daily in lives across the globe. If we really looked at the horror of it, we would want it replaced. There are indeed some gorgeous places here on planet earth, but even they are touched by death and sin. So lets rejoice that we will not have terrible memories in heaven. We will not accidentally run across the place where we failed a test, fought with a spouse or child, or visited the funeral home or death bed. Those things will be totally and completely gone.

But God will never change. He never needs to be replaced with a new God. And when we try to, we suffer for it. He is, and He will always be. He knows what we are, what we need, and what we will enjoy forever...His presence, His love, His mercy, and His redemption. We are adopted, moved into the new home that will be the new earth as His children. We don't want to stay in the orphanage when the palace awaits! So bring on the replacements! And we don't even have to try them on for size and seek the approval of others. It will be a perfect fit and always appropriate for the occasion.