Please bow our heads. Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find wisdom, and in your will, discover your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Good morning,
Welcome to the Blue Lake Presbyterian Church and thank you for coming this morning.
Today’s message is titled “A New Beginning” and it is based on Revelation 21:1-6
My family grew Tulips for four generations, but that generational tradition of growing Tulips in Holland appear to come to an end in when I immigrated to the USA and accepted a position at a lily company in Oregon.
But “A New Beginning” of growing Tulips again, came when I settled in Arcata in 1984. We imported 2 containers of bulbs and we picked the first Tulips in the spring of 1985, and the rest is history.
Speaking of “A New Beginning”. I have been driving a 1997 Ford F250 pickup truck for quite some time, many trips to Smith River and Willow Creek, and even a few to Oxnard.
That truck went through muddy fields, through forest land getting scratched by tree branches. At one point I tried to get through as narrow spot at the farm, but it didn’t quite fit and peeled of some paint of the side.
One time the mirror slammed into the door when I got too close to a redwood tree driving through Richardson Grove late one night coming back from a forty-niner game.
At one point a tree fell on the hood of truck putting a pretty good dent in it. In other words this truck got some mileage and probably endured a bit of abuse.
Then in the spring of 2014, on my way to work, at 5.30 on a Saturday morning, coming down Fickle Hill, I was hit by drunk driver who was on his way home from late night party, driving up the hill.
He failed to make the a sharp S turn and slammed into my truck, taking out the entire left side, as I was sitting in broken glass allover.
The truck was totaled, by all means this was the end of my pickup truck , it had served me well for 18 years, but we decided to buy it back from the insurance company, did a salvage title and got it fixed up again.
After a significant overhaul, and a new paint job, this truck got “A New Beginning”. 23 years and 421,000 miles later it still has the same engine, transmission and original clutch.
People often comment, how good this truck looks after 23 years, but let me tell you, it sure wasn’t like that until, it got ”A New Beginning”
This weekend several thousand students graduated at HSU. Yesterday the commencement ceremonies were held at Redwood Bowl and outgoing HSU president Lisa Rossbacher gave a commencement address.
Commencement connotes beginning. The students concluded their formal education, but it is “A New Beginning” as they start the next stage of their life.
What does the bible say about new beginnings?
The first words of the bible in Genesis 1:1 are: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.
In Genesis 9, Noah and his family got “A New Beginning” after the great flood.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, and he eventually found himself in prison. It seemed like this was the end for Joseph, but after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream he got “A New Beginning”, and became second in command in all of Egypt.
Then 4 centuries later, Moses fled to a foreign land after killing an Egyptian, he must have felt that his life was over. He went from powerful prince in Egypt, and likely heir of Pharaoh, to now being reduced to be a fugitive and a shepherd in the land of Midian, (Saudi Arabian desert).
The Lord spoke to him from the burning bush, and he got “A New Beginning”. He ultimately became one of the most influential figures in Jewish history, leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
Joshua and his fellow Israelites got “A New Beginning” when they crossed the river Jordan into the land of “Milk and Honey” after 40 years in the wilderness…..
Jonah didn’t listen to God, he went his own way, but after being tossed overboard in a big storm, and scooped up and spending 3 days inside by a big fish he was eventually spit up on the beach.
He got “A New Beginning”, and he went to Nineveh and preached the shortest sermon, causing the largest revival in history of mankind……..
At the farm, a group of Teen Challenge students is working part-time and during the busy weeks leading up to Easter and Mother’s Day they were a big help.
These folks went through the dark valley of life. But the surrendered to Jesus Christ and they got “A New Beginning”.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
The final “New Beginning” is described on the last page of the bible in the book of Revelation and that brings us to today’s reading of Revelation 21:1-6 which can be found in your pew bible at page………………………………………
Revelation 21:1-6
21 Then 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.
2 I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down, out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, no mourning, no crying, no pain, because what first was, is no more.
5 He, who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life…………….
The writer of the book of Revelation is widely believed to have been, the Apostle John.
John, the Apostle Jesus loved. He was in the inner circle of our Lord, together with his brother James and Peter he was there, at the mountain during the transfiguration of Jesus with Moses and Elijah.
John was the only disciple present at the cross. During the wave of persecution in Rome, John was thrown, in a huge basin of boiling oil.
Oil boils three times hotter than water. In other words this meant certain death. But by the will and grace of God, he was miraculously spared from death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. You may ask where is Patmos?
This island is located in the Aegean Sea in Greece. It is about 8 miles long from north to south and at its widest point only 6 miles wide.
On this island, an angel gave a vision and John wrote his prophetic book of Revelation. He was later freed and returned to present day Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully……
The Book of Revelation begins with addressing the 7 churches of Asia, he then describers a series of prophetic visions, including the seven headed dragon, the serpent and the beast, culminating in the second coming of Christ.
By Chapter 21 of Revelation, John sees a “New Heaven” and “New Earth”, “A New Beginning”.
John writes in verse 1 “there was no longer any sea…….. Living on the coast in California allows us to enjoy walks on the beach and majestic ocean views.
It may seem strange to envision a new earth without any sea, but to the ancient Jew, it was a different matter. In Jewish literature, the sea was often symbolic, for things that were ominous, and threatening.
Earlier in the Revelation 13, there is a description of the beast emerging from the sea.
In Jewish writings, the river or a spring depict the positive symbol of goodness. This made a lot of sense in a desert habitat, where a stream or a spring was life itself.
If we look at a satellite map of Israel, we see how crucial the Jordan River is to the land. It runs like a provider of life, through the heart of an arid, and parched land, connecting the Sea of Galilee in the north with the Dead Sea in the south.
In verse 2 John writes 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
Earlier I sang “The Holy City”, a time tested hymn that captures the essence of these verses in Revelation 21.
It
describes, how once again the scene was changed: New earth there seemed to be,
I saw the Holy City, Beside the
tideless sea,
The light of God was on its streets
The gates were open wide,
It was the New Jerusalem
That would not pass away
In verse 3 of Revelation 21, John writes 3 “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.
Folks, what a magnificent prospect, for the Lord our God to be among us.
Then he writes 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, no mourning, no crying, no pain, because what first was, is no more,
After previous chapters in Revelation, of trauma and conflict, after Death and Infernos finally come to an end, everything has become new.
Could it be like that in our own life? After many disappointments and conflicts and struggles, trauma and suffering, things our now filled with peace.
John wrote in verse 5 “See, I am making all things new.” In other words “A New Beginning”.
6Then he said in verse 6, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet and Omega the last, from the first words in Genesis: “In the beginning God created Heaven and earth. To the final chapters in Revelation God provides the promise of “A New Beginning”.
He continues in verse 6: To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring, of the water of life.
After our struggles, are we thirsty? Thirsty for peace,? Thirsty for comfort,? Thirsty for healing,?
Are we ready to drink from the spring, of the water of Life, the spring that provides the healing power of Jesus Christ?
These verses in Revelation 21, have been a corner stone to numerous eulogies that I have given at funerals and memorial services over the last several years.
Based on many comments afterwards from friends and family, these scripture verses in Revelation 21 are comforting and soothing for loved ones.
As people go through pain, and suffering and agony in the final chapter of theirs lives, the prospect of no mourning, no crying, no pain, is consoling, calming, reassuring and uplifting.
Someone asked, are Heaven, and eternal life, and the Kingdom of God for real.
There is no doubt in my mind, that there is a kingdom of Heaven. It is a major tenet of our Christian belief.
As Christians we recite in the Lord’s Prayer: Our Father which art in Heaven, Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven, for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Also in the music, we find the theme of hope and comfort of Heaven. The hymns we are singing today, are all based on the book of Revelation, and are handpicked by our daughter Sarah.
Rejoice our Lord is King. Rejoice in glorious hope, for Christ , the judge shall come, to glorify the saints for their eternal home.
Today, a year ago, Dottie Haukenberry a great friend for many years, and a regular visitor to this church passed away. A few months before her passing and being with the Lord, she told me that she read this book written by Billy Graham titled “Nearing home”.
In this book, Graham invites the reader to journey with him as he considers the golden years, while anticipating the hope of reuniting with loved ones, entering in his heavenly home.
In an interview, Billy Graham shared, “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.”
The book of Revelation provides hope and a road map to “A New Beginning”.
Are you going through trials and tribulations right now, have you been knocked to the ground, are you feeling down , depressed, forsaken and lost?
Are you ready for “A New Beginning”?
You may ask, what do I need to do to get “A New Beginning”
Say this simple prayer: Jesus come into my heart, I accept you as my Lord and Savior and I put my trust in you.
Jesus said in John14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me.
Repent of our sins; what does that mean?
Stop doing all those things that hold us down. Let the chains that keep us down be broken.
Let the love of God enter our hearts and quench our thirsty souls, with the water of Life.
Jesus as our Lord and Savior, will lead us on that narrow road through the gate, to the New Jerusalem, the New Heaven, the Kingdom God, and provide us with “A New Beginning”.
Thank you,
God
Bless you,
Amen
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