Snow Drops & The Garden of Fruit Trees

Have you ever yearned for a world you have not known, a place that is better than the existence we are living, a world you’re not sure is possible? A world where the light shines brightly, and love is all there is. A world without death or crying or pain, without brokenness, sin, and lies and deceptions that result in broken relationships, broken trust, broken promises, and shattered dreams?

A world without disease and illness of many kinds, confusion, trauma, and disillusionment, free from poisoned air and poisoned water, dilapidated houses fallen into disrepair because of neglect? A world free from the darkness that surrounds and worse darkness within. Such a world could seem unfathomable. How could such a world come to be? How could you imagine living in such a world, particularly when a world filled with this darkness and pain is all you’ve ever known?

A world free from all of this is possible. A world free from all this is coming. And even now it is here.

We are so close yet so far, we are 20 centuries into the future from when the people of Israel in the 1st century were waiting for Jesus to return. Even though we are separated by time, culture, and language, they are not unlike us at all. They were in darkness, just as we are, facing oppression of many kinds. They had already been waiting centuries for the promised Messiah. We are on the other side of that wait, but we are still waiting, not knowing when Jesus will return once and for all, to bring in God’s kingdom.

So Close yet so far, 2000 years into the future from when Jesus came, chose the 12 disciples, Peter, James, son of Zebedee, John, Andrew, Thomas, Phillip, Matthew, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, James, son of Alphaeus, and of course Judas Iscariot. They were regular everyday people just like we are, participating in changing the world, in ways they did not understand when they were living it in real time.

From the day Jesus chose the 12, God’s kingdom has been breaking in, but not in any way that was expected. The gospel has been spreading around the world since that day, and when I look into it, it’s not in a way I would have expected either. So close yet so far, thousands of years later and we are still waiting for his return. Even once Jesus returns, there is still the 1,000 years where the enemy will be locked up. That’s 10 centuries worth of time. In the finite amount of time humans have in our day, that’s a really long time.

How will the events unfold, I wonder? How will this new world of peace and joy happen? We are told in the book of Revelation, yet I still don’t know what that means in terms of the everyday events of life. Learning from the Israelites, I suspect it’s best not to have expectations about a specific way things will happen. Jesus didn’t show up the way many Israelites envisioned; they had specific thoughts about how the messiah would come because of that, they rejected him.

I don’t know how events will unfold, how the new heaven and new earth will come to be, how everything will be restored or when everything will be restored. These events could be happening right under our noses, Jesus could return at any moment. But in not knowing this, and even though I don’t know what it will really be like to live in this world in real time, I can imagine what the world will be like based on what I do know.

I am longing for the day when there will be no more pain, no more grief, no more death, suffering, or evil. When the enemy will finally get what’s coming to him, and there will be no more demons, principalities, or powers interfering in our everyday lives.

Imagine with me, walk with me, as I think about what it would be like to walk outside among the trees, looking at the flowers, feeling the wind on our faces. The fresh crisp air that you can take a big deep breath in, the freshest air you’ve ever breathed in your life, without concern for anything. Breathing air without concern about the poisons that are in it.

Imagine the freedom of knowing that the air is 100% completely free of toxins. Imagine the beautiful scenery, the intensity of the colors that we can’t fathom with our eyes. The bright greens of the tree’s leaves, the intense browns, experience how alive the trees are, the vibrancy of the flowers and the environment, smell the intensity of the flowers, taste the fruity notes of the berries. Smell the citrus and the fresh honey notes of the apples. Ahh, that sugar-sweet smell of the fruit trees. Best of all, I imagine Jesus walking right next to me.

Imagine seeing the spring of the water of life. You won’t be throwing pennies into this spring. Imagine drinking the fresh, crystal clear water, the kind of water no water filter could ever even get close to. Imagine drinking this water and feeling the most refreshed you’ve ever felt, as if you would never be thirsty again, while at the same time wanting to drink more of this water. The atmosphere is one of absolute peace, harmony, and joy. Imagine walking around anywhere in the world at any time without a care in the world. Imagine a world with zero violence, no cares about any danger.

I don’t have any idea what the new heaven and new earth will be like, but I’m pretty sure what won’t be there. Imagine not having the constant dissension of contested space that we’re in. Enemies (spiritual enemies because our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers) never take a second off to create toxicity among ( especially among ) loved ones.

Just imagine a life that will be great, free from the feeling of constant separation and loneliness in one form or another, for everyone. Even just everyday things like language can separate us. We can literally be speaking the same language and not be speaking the same language. The things that separate us in this current world no longer will.

I look forward to being able to walk down the great street of the city and pick a piece of fruit off of the tree of life, and be able to talk to another person without concern for anything. I could just say “ Hey, how are you?! And they would say Great! How are you?! And I would say Great! I may only have known this person for all of 2 minutes. Just the freedom from fear, shame, and negative inner dialogue I hear will be amazing.

No more state of turmoil and discontent that plagues us in this current world we are in. I have yearned for the kind of free interactions with others that I imagined above. Only love and togetherness. Relationships where I am free to be me without concern of betrayal or rejection, or judgment.

We are so close yet so far, from the restored world, a world that is fresh and new, a brand new creation free from the sickness and evil that currently enslaves us. A world where I can look at Father God, see his beautiful throne, and walk with Jesus. Where God will be with us and be our God. While the world is not yet restored, I do know how I can live for this world now, as I wait for Jesus' return.

To love those around me as myself, which requires me to be loving myself in a healthy way first. To be aware of the enemy and his deceptions, and to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind. To find where the light shines in the darkness of the world and to be that light. Looking for the places of kindness, peace, and hope to be encouraged and to be an encouragement.

To appreciate a day where there is a fresh breeze, the sky is beautiful, enjoy the blues combining with the soft purples and pinks as the day is moving from afternoon to evening. A nice meal with a friend, a helping hand, a safe space in a community of people sharing something in common. The rays of sunshine in a day, enjoying the sun on my face. These moments may be few and far between, but I will appreciate them when they happen.

Only Father God knows the specific events of how everything will be made new, for he will be doing it, when we’ll have all of eternity to spend with Father God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit in real time in a brand new world reunited with loved ones and everyone else. Until then, we can live like that today. I can say to a friend, How about we sit with a coffee and a pastry in our favorite place and just enjoy this moment, because at some point in the future we will be sitting together in the new heaven and new earth, enjoying one another’s company in some way.