The Fall semester officially began today! In addition to my New
Testament and Greek classes I have inherited the position of seminary chaplain.
The chaplain is responsible for planning and scheduling the two weekly chapel
services throughout the year and for leading a half-hour faculty and staff devotion/prayer
meeting each Monday. The chapel scheduling will require a good deal of
networking with pastors and Christian leaders in the Netherlands.
In my first time leading the
faculty/staff meeting today I shared some of the following thoughts: John concludes his vision of the eschatological New
Jerusalem by summing up the future of God’s people: “and they will reign
forever and ever” (Rev 22:5c; ESV). This language of “reigning” is significant
in light of God’s original creation purpose for humanity to reign and rule in his
creation for his glory as his image bearers and representatives (Gen 1:26-28). As a race we were/are rendered
unable to fulfill this purpose by our rebellion, disobedience, and sin, but Rev
22:5 provides a glorious glimpse of our future—we will one day, as a redeemed
race, fulfill God’s original creational purpose. We will reign with him as his
image and representatives over a renewed and restored creation. Heaven/New
Creation will certainly not be boring! Even better, “new creation” begins right
now in the midst of this old creation for those who are in Christ (2 Cor 5 17).
We engage in this activity of extending God’s reign and rule throughout his
creation as we engage and participate in his mission to the world. I.e.:
missions is a way for us to fulfill God’s original purpose for humanity while anticipating
the future day when we will fulfill this purpose fully and completely in God’s
new creation!
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