The eventual healing of all things

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Scripture

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
(Mark 16:15 NASB)

 

Observation


Here in Mark we find another version of the Great Commission which we typically quote from Matthew. Mark's commission brings us an understanding that God's intent through Jesus Christ is that all of creation will be healed. In John 3:16 we are reminded that God so loved the "world." With the arrival of sin on earth a process of corruption and decay which has affected all of God's creation. The disciples were to go out and preach the good news of Jesus Christ -- salvation to the lost, baptizing them -- and helping to usher in a new era of the kingdom which stretches to all of God's creation.

 

Application


The corruption of this world goes far beyond the acts of humanity. The decay has touched all things and therefore we have terrible storms, earthquakes, diseases and more. As time continues it seems that there are more and more issues of decay which arise. However, in the midst of the decay, there is the hope of restoration. We are being drawn toward a trajectory in which there will be the eventual healing of all things, of all creation. The first thing to be restored is humanity's relationship with God! That is possible in the here and now and when that relationship is healed, then the kingdom begins to break into this earthly sphere. Those who are citizens of the new kingdom bring with them a little piece of the kingdom which is to come and as they touch the world around them, God's healing begins to occur. Complete and total healing will come in the end when there is a new heaven and a new earth, but until then there is this hope which comes through faithful members of the kingdom.

Jesus was challenging his followers to be responsible members of the kingdom. We are to be responsible members as well and we are to take the healing touch of the kingdom out into a world that is struggling and needy. This week the terrible storm Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States and people are suffering. Citizens of the kingdom must immediately ask themselves how they can respond and become involved in helping to bring the healing of the kingdom to those who are suffering from the effects of a corrupted creation. This is what kingdom citizens do! Mark was encouraging us to understand that preaching the good news about Jesus meant that we were to help bring healing to all things, and this would be a little premonition of the hope of God's future. The challenge for each of us is to be faithful citizens of God's kingdom, preaching the good news on a daily basis as we journey through and touch this corrupted world, heading into the future healing of all things.

 

Prayer


Lord, please help me to be a good kingdom citizen today! Amen.

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