I was speaking, or rather, leading a conversation on Psalm 34 this evening at a FOCUS meeting here in NYC. How wonderful that these students and their leaders get together for fun, food (always including Orangina, showing that anything can become a tradition), and a discussion on a passage in the Bible. Those are some of my favourite things: people getting together for the sake of it, digging into the Bible together, and Orangina. Though the latter was exhausted before I arrived...
In any case, in my bit, I mentioned visiting my wife's family home in rural Ontario, Canada. The land and lake there yield many delights: maple syrup in the past couple of months, wild raspberries in the summer, lovely firewood in super-abundance, fish that enjoy taking hold of the lines of delighted seven year olds, hours of card games and homemade pies. What joy it all is, and how extraordinary to think that given the best things we enjoy today will pale, inexpressibly so, compared to what is ahead for those who love God. I love old things, but the new things will be better. Here is Revelation 21:
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He 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." 5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
What an interesting thing to consider -- what gives us joy will in some way be renewed and recreated; and I guess, be fulfilled in some way.
Now back to 1 Peter, my text for Sunday at Christ Church...
