What Has Become of Our World?

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What Has Become of Our World?

Psalm 88

Andy Nagahara

Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people. I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. (19-21)

A. The “good” world that God created

1. Human beings as God’s final creation

2. Human beings as God’s partners

B. The betrayal and its aftermath

But you have rejected, you have spurned, you have been very angry with your anointed one. You have renounced the covenant with your servant and have defiled his crown in the dust. You have broken through all his walls and reduced his strongholds to ruins. All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors. You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice. (38-42)

C. Jesus, who came to restore our relationship　

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all men! What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave? (46-48)

Summary

God created human beings in his likeness so that they would rule over the good world he created, but over time, human beings forgot about being stewards of God’s world and lived to fulfill their own desires. That is the state of our world today. Jesus came to restore the world to what God originally intended. Salvation is not an invitation to heaven, but rather, an invitation to live our lives as God designed.　

For Discussion

Has your relationship with God been restored? Why?
What does it mean for you to live your life following Jesus?