>>> New Creation

56.
Our hope for a new earth is not tied[1]
to what humans can do,[2]
for we believe that one day[3]
every challenge to God's rule
and every resistance to his will shall be crushed.
Then his kingdom shall come fully,[4]
and our Lord shall rule forever.

[1 1 Pet. 1:3-12]
[2 2 Pet. 3:1-13]
[3 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11]
[4 Rev. 11:15]

57.
We long for that day[1]
when Jesus will return as triumphant king,
when the dead will be raised[2]
and all people will stand before his judgment.[3]
We face that day without fear,
for the Judge is our Savior.
Our daily lives of service aim for the moment[4]
when the Son will present his people to the Father.
Then God will be shown to be true, holy, and gracious.
All who have been on the Lord's side[5]
will be honored,
the fruit of even small acts of[6]
obedience will be displayed;
but tyrants and oppressors,
heretics, and all who deny the Lord
will be damned.

[1 Rev. 20:11-21:8]
[2 1 Cor. 15]
[3 John 5:28-29]
[4 2 Thess. 1:5-10]
[5 2 Cor. 5:10]
[6 Matt. 25:31-46]

58.
With the whole creation[1]
we wait for the purifying fire of judgment.
For then we will see the Lord face to face.[2]
He will heal our hurts,
end our wars,
and make the crooked straight.
Then we will join in the new song
to the Lamb without blemish[3]
who made us a kingdom and priests.[4]
God will be all in all,
righteousness and peace will flourish,[5]
everything will be made new,
and every eye will see at last
that our world belongs to God!
Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus.[6]

[1 Rom. 8:18-39]
[2 Rev. 21-22]
[3 Rev. 5]
[4 1 Cor. 15:28]
[5 Isa. 11:6-9; 60:11, 19-20; 65:17-25]
[6 Rev. 22:17, 20]