Satan’s kingdom of darkness is often thought of as equal to God’s kingdom of light. But it is not equal in any respect. It is only a cancer that has appeared in God’s kingdom. Like a tumor in an otherwise healthy body, it must be fully removed – and like a skillful surgeon, God will do exactly that. The tumor – and all the ruinous disorder it seeks to spread – will be cast out. When that happens, the kingdom of heaven will be fully realized just as full health returns to the person who has had their tumor completely removed. For when God does the surgery, there is no trace of the disease left behind. When God brings healing, it is complete healing. It is healing unto eternal life, no matter how bleak the prognosis or dreadful the disease!
This is an oft-overlooked fact. We live in a fallen world, in fallen flesh and often with fallen thinking. But the cancer that is Satan’s dominion does not mean that the world around us is wrong in every respect. What we see may be dis-ordered and distorted, but the creation as a whole – the earth, sky, sea – and all they contain – plant, animals, fish, birds, insects and humans – are still the creation of God and meant to be a blessing. They are purposed to bring glory to God, who said, “I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”
The pragmatic reality of knowing that is assurance that healing and restoration will come to the people of God, as surely as God’s Word created the earth and as surely as God’s Word declares time’s end. Not only healing and restoration for what was/is slightly wrong, but for all – even unto the resurrection of the dead and the complete removal of death, pain and sin. So it will come to pass just as Christ said, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”
This is the hope of the Christian. Not just that we are forgiven – though that is wonderful – and not just that we will live forever – though that is wonderful too. But that we will be like Jesus in character. Holy, sinless and perfectly in alignment with the Father’s purpose and plan. We will be able to hear God’s voice without obstruction, know the fullness of the Spirit of God without quenching and walk in the purposes of God without stumbling. The result of that will be a life of unspeakable joy, perfect peace and overwhelming fruitfulness. Best of all, we will regularly gaze on the face of God. Just as Moses’ face shone for a season after meeting God in the tabernacle, so our whole bodies will shine.
Our whole bodies will shine, and that with near blinding brilliance, always.
This is the future for us. This is why we persevere through our struggles every day, and every day ask God in prayer to wash us from our sin, and daily crucify our sinful nature. This is our hope, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
Our ultimate destiny is not a disembodied heaven, just as the ultimate destiny of this created world is not to be thrown away, abandoned as secondary or shabby. It’s the tyrants who want to blow the world to bits. God wants to re-create it.
NT Wright
APPLICATION: Worship
Glory to God, the day draws ever nearer when we will be fully restored!