'Paradise is a vision of what we do not have and think we would like to have.'
JOE MILLER JR.
Isaiah 65:17-25

Joe Miller Jr. is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Newton.

A word association game: If I say the word "paradise," what image immediately pops into your head? Do you envision a deserted, white sand beach with a crystal blue lagoon? Do you see palm trees swaying in the breeze? Or maybe your idea of paradise is a rustic log cabin situated on a clear, clean stream cascading down a rocky mountain slope.

Paradise is a vision of what we do not have and think we would like to have. It can be a physical place or an idyllic escape from the reality of life. That vision can involve some pretty grandiose, impossible images.

On the other hand, for the people to whom the prophet was speaking, their vision of paradise was pretty basic. Just to be able to live in their own homes, eat their own food, take care of their children, and live out their lives in peace was their vision of paradise.

Their wants were basic because their lives were extremely desperate. When they finally got to return from captivity in Babylonia, they assumed that life would be like it was in the "good old days." They quickly discovered that their destroyed country was not capable of recreating what it once was. They became discouraged and gave up hope.

Isaiah brought them new hope from God. God was going to improve their lot dramatically by creating a new heaven and a new earth and give them the basic things they needed to have joy in life. However, God's vision of paradise transcended their vision. Not only did God envision the basics of life, He envisioned a recreated relationship between humankind and their God and between people.

It would be a paradise when the wolf would feed with the lamb rather than feed on the lamb; in other words, His creation would be a total, lasting, and real peace. Our relationship with each other would be perfect and our relationship with God would be idyllic. Before we even pray, God will answer. Our joy will be God's joy. It reminds us of the relationship that God had with Adam and Eve when he walked in the garden with them.

These are the promises of God delivered from the mouth of one of His prophets. However, we might be tempted to ask, "When is this going to happen?"

There are two polar opposite ways of thinking about the promises of God and the coming of His Kingdom. One is that we patiently wait until Christ returns and institutes the Kingdom. The other is to reckon that we are the hands and feet of God, and our Christian duty is to assist in bringing about His Kingdom.

Both are correct. In this text God assumes that we will keep working. We are not going to have the opportunity to have creation serve us like Adam and Eve did. We are challenged to become part of the will of God. Yet, we know that we cannot do it alone. That is why Christ died on the cross for us. Email me with your comments at newtonumc@valornet. com.