Few books have left as much impact on me as one entitled “The Eighth Day of Creation” by Elizabeth O’Conner. I received it early in the formative years of my ministry as a gift from the president of Youth for Christ. That book helped set the course of my life.
The book's premise was that our fullest happiness and meaning in life was realized as one objectively identifies their God-given strengths and giftings, and then uses them fully for the glory of God and good of man.
One of the most mysterious days of the Hebrew year is “Shemini Atzeret.” It is the day after the sacred year ends – also called the eighth day, or the day forever begins. In Old Testament times on Shemini Atzeret, the priest would take the Torah scrolls, that had been gradually unrolled and read during the year and roll them back up again. That act marked a finish. The scriptures had been read; the sacred year was ended; and the day after the end had begun.
The prophet Isaiah talked of a day when the scrolls of heaven will be rolled up, and life as we know it will cease. (Isaiah 34:4) John used the same metaphor in Revelation 6:14. “Then the sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all mountains and islands were moved from their places.”
This imagery was meant to remind us that life here is not the destination. It is the journey to the destination. As Christians we live in two worlds – the here and the hereafter. (Phil. 3:14, 20, 21) Scripture teaches us the eighth day is coming - the day forever begins. I wonder what we would do differently if the eighth day began tomorrow.
Some day the scrolls will be rolled up altogether and time will be no more. On that day we will break out of the limitations of the finite and into the realm of the infinite.
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth,” John said. “The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God’s home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.” (Rev. 21:1-4 CEV)
Be blessed my friend.
Glen (Pitts)
The Barnabas Group / Loads of Love
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