He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. (Philippians 1:6)
I pray that the contrasts I will share with you today will be a source of great comfort to you, because they come from the God who is faithful to finish what He has begun.
In the beginning everything was very good. God placed His special creation, the two who were His image-bearers, in a perfect paradise garden, and all was well until that terrible day when Adam and Eve chose to turn away from serving God to satisfy themselves. Sin stained everything and brought God’s judgment on the entire creation. But even in the midst of judgment, we see His mercy and grace expressed in His promise to redeem those sinful rebels on the run.
Now, against that backdrop of amazing grace, let’s look at those comforting cosmic contrasts:
| Genesis | Revelation |
| When you eat this, you will die (2:17) | No more death (21:4) |
| You will experience intense pain (3:16) | No more pain (21:4) |
| I have placed a curse on the ground (3:17) | No more curse (22:3) |
| Adam and Eve banished from God’s presence (3:23) | We will see His face (22:4) |
The sinless life, sacrificial death, and supernatural resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ reversed the curse that resulted from sin. Because of what Jesus has done for us, everything has changed. The original heavens and earth that God created will be recreated as the new heavens and the new earth. And the most stunning contrast of all is that by trusting in Christ alone for our salvation, we have been raised from death to life. And it’s not just us! In the beginning there were just two people, but in the end there will be a multitude that no one can number (Revelation 7:9), and there is no possibility that we can ever be separated from our Savior because of sin (Romans 8:38-39).
Are these cosmic contrasts not a comfort to you today? But remember, until we cross the Jordan and reach the other side, these contrasts will not be experienced in their completed form. We will still deal with the effects of the fall in the Garden, and that means we will deal with sin – our own sin and the sin of others – as well as the fall of the creation itself. So keep these cosmic contrasts in view as you continue fighting the good fight of faith, knowing that He who began this good work will one day bring it to completion . . . and on that day the comforting cosmic contrasts will be consummated.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 