December 15, 2002
Advent III
Christ Church, South Pittsburg

Sermon: "New Heavens and a New Earth"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

Perhaps it’s only because I’m a bit of a dreamer that I sometimes think this way. But every now and then I wonder about what changes I might make in things if I had the chance. What would I do differently in my own life, for instance? What different decisions might I make if I had another opportunity?

Do you ever think that way? Apparently television shows have found an audience for such ideas. I know people who say that they would not change a thing if they had it all to do over again. That may be a healthy attitude. However, I wonder if that is really the truth. Maybe the big things we would not change - like where we live or who we married. But how about the ways that we treated our children - especially those first children, when we did not know very much? And how about friendships and relationships that we allowed to sour or simply to fade away? What about professions or hobbies or ways we spent vacations? I doubt there is anybody alive that would not change some of those things. What would you do differently if you could try again, if you could make things new?

I think it was Robert Kennedy who said something like this: “Some people see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ But I see things that never were and ask, ‘Why not?’” It’s a dreamer of dreams who asks a question like that. And, I’ve already admitted to being a dreamer.

Therefore, some of the words in our first reading today caught my eye. “Thus says the Lord God, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth”(Is65:17). There it is - a chance to make things new. This same idea occurs elsewhere in the Bible, most notably in the book of Revelation. In fact, some of the same language is used there. The vision of the new heavens and a new earth is one matter considered in that difficult writing. At one point, the King on the throne - who is Christ - proclaims these words that remind us of Isaiah: “See, I am making all things new”(21:5).

Maybe God is a dreamer, too. He dreamed the dream of a world created from nothing before there was anything at all, anywhere at all, anytime at all. He dreamed of God becoming a human being - fully God and fully person - and a very humble human being at that. And I wonder what God is dreaming even now. Surely God sees things not only as they are - but also as they might be.

This morning, consider with me Isaiah’s understanding of God’s new heavens and new earth - God’s dreams of how things might be. And, since God is the dreamer, perhaps this may actually be the way things will be one day.

The first thing to notice about this dream - this vision - in Isaiah is that while it is new, the images are in terms of old ones. That which was negative about the old is missing from this new vision. However, while the newness is emphasized, the setting of the vision remains the same. The place is not new - but rather, the same, familiar one, simply made new. Within that familiar setting, the world is made new in many ways.

Thus, where there had been weeping and cries of distress, there will be gladness and rejoicing. Where there had been sudden and tragic death, there will be fulfillment of life and completeness in living. Thus, the contrast between the old and the new is made. The setting is the same - that is, the same place - but without the distress and the misfortune. Those are absent from the new creation.

Also, in the new creation, justice and fairness will be upheld. Plans that are formulated will be carried out, for Isaiah writes, “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat”(65:21-22a). Thus, work and effort will bring adequate return and enjoyment that will endure. “Like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands”(65:22b), says the Lord.

Another characteristic of this new creation is that the Lord will be near … and that people will be aware of His presence. Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah writes, “Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear”(65:24). Thus, God himself will be a constant companion in the new creation.

Finally, the promise of peace concludes the vision: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent - its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord”(65:25). Enemies will share meals together, and causes for fear will be removed. Thus, peace will be at hand. What a wonderful dream that is for our twenty-first century world!

As we have already suggested, one very interesting and remarkable characteristic of this vision is familiarity. The images are ones that we know. They are not so remote as to be incomprehensible in our world … the world we experience. Put another way, wearing white robes, heads surrounded by haloes, riding on clouds, and playing harps - that does not make much sense to us. Nor do such images seem all that attractive, to tell the truth.

However, the new creation that Isaiah describes is this creation, made new … our own world fulfilled and made complete. Thus, a vision of life filled with gladness and joy and lived to its fullest - that we can imagine. The opportunity to set goals and then the likelihood of achieving them - that makes sense to us, and it is attractive. Having the Lord near as One who hears and who answers - that is an image of support … support we know that we need. And, peace as a reality of life - that surely is a hope we share.

Is this just a dream … a vision seen by some idle dreamer? No, indeed. This vision of new heavens and a new earth is God’s dream - and ours to share with God.

Remember that creation once existed only in the mind of God - and that dream came to fruition. Remember, also, that God’s Son was once a dream of God … a dream to offer brotherhood with Christ, to bring salvation to the world - and that dream became flesh. So, too, the new heavens and a new earth will one day come forth from the mind of God. God’s vision for who we are to be and what creation is to become will indeed one day break into the reality of our world.

Until that time, may we keep this vision before us, realizing it is our destination intended by God. In Advent, we watch and we wait … but we do so in expectation of the fulfillment of God’s dream. Until then, may we pray “thy kingdom come, on earth”; may we prepare the way of the Lord, for he will return; and, in what we do and in how we live, may we issue this word of invitation: “Maranatha … O Lord, come!” Amen.

Copyright © 2002 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee