HOPE! - Words Creating Worlds

A robust and thoughtful understanding of the end result of Christ at work in our lives and in the world (e.g., eschatology) impacts our present understanding of our current role in the body of Christ (e.g., ecclesiology) as well as influences the words we choose to speak to those around us as we reflect the gentleness of God to people.

This thoughtfulness in regard to the end result gives Christians a perspective from which to function as the church  - a perspective that leads to change in our words and our actions as we strive by the grace of God to live in unity in Christ and at peace with each other.

If there is a final goal in mind, then the church may be oriented around that goal instead of simply wandering aimlessly through time just hoping for the best and speaking whatever careless words happen to roll off our tongues without the slightest regard to their impact.

Our words are a creative force. We are made in the image and likeness of God; and like God, our words create worlds. Some of the worlds we create reflect the goodness and gentleness and beauty of our Creator… and others… not so much.

But we can be assured that the best of who we are becoming in Christ will be fully revealed someday.

If we as the Church had a strong understanding of the end result, we would know that we as believers are the kingdom of God on earth and that we are ushering in the new creation and the redemption of the world. Christ has chosen to work through us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed, and we are the children of God, the Church. We bring life through Christ into the world, and we will continue to do so until the end when once and for all the creation in its entirety will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

The future is breaking or entering into the present in the church. It is our future hope in the return and reign of Christ that orients our practices. This is what drives the church. A church without a future hope is a sad church, and a blind and deaf church, not truly hearing the words the world hears them speak or seeing the impact those words have.

But praise God for his gentle grace at work within us! And praise him for the gentle words he chooses to use with us in spite of the words we have at times thoughtlessly blurted out in front of a world that sees us as His reflection. And praise our God who walks alongside us and helps us to truly understand the grace and victory of Christ who is our hope.