The wolf will live with the lamb, elephants and donkeys too, as well as opposites too many to number—from throughout the animal and human communities. They won’t harm nor destroy anywhere in the new heaven and new earth, for the entire cosmos will be filled to overflowing with the knowledge of the Lord and his glory, just as the waters cover the sea. Paraphrase of Isa.11:6-9
Dear Lord Jesus, every promise God has made finds its “Yes!” in you (2 Cor. 1:20), we crave the fulfillment of the Day when Isaiah’s vision comes to fruition 100% plus. The assassination attempt on former President Trump, the daily horror of children being sold into sexual slavery, the systemic exploitation of the poor by the rich, racial profiling, stereotyping, and reviling… and the spite, hatred, and meanness between friends who can no longer talk civilly about these very topics. Jesus, please come back and finish making all things new.
Oh, for the Day when all “tooth and claw” violence gives way to wolves frolicking with lambs; leopards and goats napping together; calves, lions, and young horses meandering through the new heaven and new earth as friends; cows and bears lunching together, rather than having one another for lunch—the Day when everything broken will be healed and everything sad will come untrue. No more political parties, just one big eternal Gospel Party.
No more wars or rumors of war; no more suicide bombings or human trafficking; no in home lootings or nightclub shootings. No more demeaning or dismissing, vilifying or using one another; no more hating or hurting, ignoring or igniting one another in any way, shape, or form. Red and Blue will be friends again as colors. No more assuming the worse of someone rather than asking, “What might faith expressing itself in love in this situation look like?”
Jesus, hasten the Day when God’s glory will cover the earth like water covers the sea; the Day when knowing the Lord won’t be something we do, but who we are; the Day when we will finally and fully love one another as you love us. Until that Day, keep us groaning and growing in grace. When we love poorly, convict us quickly and grant us humble repentances. May the world recognize us as your disciples by the way we love one another. So Very VERY Amen we pray, in your powerful, patient, precious name.