the new earth

There is a commercial for Travelers Insurance that Hudson really likes- probably because of all the animals. He'll stare at the image and make all the animal noises and signs as each new creature comes on the screen. It's pretty funny. You can watch it below:



When it came on the other day I actually stopped what I was doing to watch it. The reason it caught my attention more this time was because I'd just finished studying Isaiah 11. If you are unfamiliar with the passage, then you can find it here. I was specifically thinking about verses six through nine, talking about how predators and prey will lie down with one another. So after watching the commercial, I asked Kyle if he thought that the new earth would be like that. It's not that I believe that animals will be giving one another rides or splashing water at one another. I just think it's pretty cool that not just men but animals will be at peace with one another. That's an amazing thought.

When we visited the zoo a couple of weeks ago one of the zoo keepers was standing outside the cage/pen for the jaguar. The jaguar was pacing the perimeter of his area as if standing guard. I asked the zoo keeper if he still has the urge to pounce or attack prey even though he's fed on a regular basis. The zoo keeper told me that yes, the jaguar still has those instincts- they will never go away. And now, as I sit here and think about Isaiah's prophecy, I'm reminded that one day those instincts will go away. God created that jaguar to live in harmony with all animals, but sin destroyed that for the jaguar too. Sin didn't just mess up the lives of men, but the rest of creation as well. All of creation is eagerly awaiting to be redeemed, as seen in Scripture. That's pretty amazing.

I really look forward to the new earth. Not just because there will be no more sin or peace among men and creation, but because all of us who are in Christ will be doing what we were created to do. We'll be glorifying God and giving Him the praise He deserves. That's such an awesome thought- to be completely fulfilled, to not struggle against my flesh, to sing praise to my Creator without being hindered by anything. What a glorious day!!

marriage

Kyle and I have been married for about seven and a half years. When he proposed he used a quote from Martin Luther's proposal to his own wife to propose to me. It's actually taken from Acts 3 when Peter and John were walking into the temple. A lame beggar asked them for money, but Peter had no money to offer. Instead, he offered the beggar something that would last forever- Jesus Christ. When Kyle proposed to me he told me that he didn't have riches or gold, but he has a rich God. And we get to serve that God together every day.

Kyle recently completed some pre-marital counseling with a couple. They talked about the creation of woman, the helpmate of the man. She was put there to help the man bring glory to God. That's what Kyle and I are supposed to do in our marriage- help each other bring glory to God. The verse that is inscribed on our wedding rings is Psalm 34:3, "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together."

I'm so thankful for this partner in ministry. I'm so thankful that I get to go through life glorifying God with him. We get to make disciples together- our children. We get to pray together, worship together, and read God's Word together.

Kyle, thanks for letting me be the one that gets to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.