THE
LAND OF BEGINNING AGAIN
How many times have you
heard it said, "If I had my life to live over again . . . ." This thought was
expressed some time ago in a poignant article in a newspaper about the ill, the lonely,
the old, the poor and forgotten. One elderly man, who carried his possessions in a
borrowed shopping cart and lived in an abandoned warehouse, said, "I feel like Robert
Frost felt in one of his poems. 'I'd like to get away from earth awhile and then come back
to it and begin over."' And he added, "That's what I’d like to do. I'd sure
do better next time."
Few can read the following without feeling it strike a responsive chord:
"I wish that there were some wonderful place
Called the Land of Beginning Again;
Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches
And all our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
And never put on again."
God’s Word promises there will be a "land of beginning
again" in which all the old failings, mistakes, and troubles will be put away. This
is the good news promised by the angel at Jesus’ birth! What do the scriptures say
about this opportunity for mankind to start over?
FATHER ADAM TO HAVE SECOND TRIAL
The trial of father Adam in Eden ended in disaster for himself and all
his descendants. Unless God had made an arrangement for a second trial, none of the human
family would ever gain eternal life or escape the sentence of death that came on them
there. The death of Christ was for the purpose of giving a second trial to Adam and all
his race. (I Corinthians 15:21-23; Romans 5:17, 18) Peter calls this second trial
"times of restitution" (Acts 3:19-21) when mankind will be restored to all of
life, perfection, and dominion of earth which Adam possessed.
Before this second trial, some of mankind are called to start their
lives over, beginning again as Christians. During the Gospel age God says: "If any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature." To these "old things have passed away,
all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) The Christian life is a process of
transformation by the "renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2) These have
"tasted the powers of the age to come." (Hebrews 6:5) Through Christ, this is
their "land of beginning again."
FUTURE PROBATION GUARANTEED
The rest of the world are still under curse of death placed on Adam for
disobedience. They have not yet "escaped the condemnation that is on the world."
There is only one way to escape now -- through accepting Christ on His terms of
discipleship. However, God has made provision for a new trial for the rest of mankind
during the Millennial age. This will be the first trial for each indivdual human being,
although it is a second chance for the race of mankind who were originally condemned
because of Father Adam’s sin. This new trial will be mankind’s "land of
beginning again. "
Then "the earth shall be
filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:9)
Then "all shall know Him from the least to the greatest." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
God will write his law on their hearts and weeping and sighing shall flee away. Death
itself will be destroyed. (Revelation 21:3-4) Indeed man will no longer have the
opposition of Satan because he will be bound for the Millennium. Christ and the glorified
church will be sympathetic priests and kings for the world of mankind. Paul said "The
whole creation groaneth and travaileth, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of
God" because the revealing of Christ and the church will be mankind's time for
blessing and restoration to his Creator.
As Jesus gives to all
who come to Him the opportunity to "try, try again" and gradually demonstrate
and cultivate their loyalty to God, so the world will be given their opportunity of
trying, trying again so they may learn righteousness and come into full harmony with
Christ the King and His glorious Golden Rule. The Scriptures assure us regarding the
Millennium: "When thejudgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants
of the world will learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:9
The object of that Millennial Kingdom will be to rehabilitate the world
-- to bring all the willing and obedient back to human perfection and everlasting life.
"And a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I
will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "
Ezekiel 36:26
ALL IN DEATH TO BE AWAKENED
Most people who have ever lived are asleep in death. Therefore, for
these"the land of beginning again' will mean an awakening from the dead, the
resurrection of all the billions of mankind who have died. As Jesus said, "All that
are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth." John 5:28 Mankind
will come forth in the same mental, moral and physical condition in which they entered the
tomb. The threads of existence will be taken up just where they were dropped in death. The
individual will retain his identity and be restored to his family circle.
Past experiences with sin and selfishness will be a valuable asset of
knowledge and will be helpful in appreciating the advantages of the reign of righteousness
and life in contrast with the previous reign of sin and death. The Scriptures speak of
this as "a resurrection of judgment" (John 5:29 RSV) -- through a process of
instruction, discipline and correction. Even under these most favorable conditions some
will refuse to obey and will be destroyed as incorrigible in the second death. See Acts
3:23, Jeremiah 31:29-30.
WILL SINS OF PRESENT LIFE BE PUNISHED?
No doubt the question comes to mind . . . Will there be no punishments
for the sins of the present life? The Bible makes it very clear that everyone is
accountable before God according to the measure of his enlightenment and ability. (Luke
12:47-48) Every step downward, every known opposition to righteousness, every stifling of
conscience works injury to character and will require proportionate effort to retrace the
steps and rebuild the character that was destroyed.
It is a fixed principle of life, "Whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) Sow an act, and you reap a habit, sow a habit,
and you reap a character, sow a character, and you reap a destiny. Let us resolve to sow
that which will bring forth a harvest of righteousness, justice, truth and love. As we
continue to pray, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in
heaven," may God’s will be done more fully in our hearts and homes. The true
Christian who has already risen to "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4) will
rejoice that Gods plan includes a "land of beginning again" for the sin-sick
world now blinded by Satan. (II Corinthians 4:4)
For more information on this land of beginning again, e-mail balkoct@aol.com for a free copy of the Divine Plan of
the Ages. This free book has helped thousands to a clear understanding of the Word of God.
Feel free to send your Bible questions as well to balkoct@aol.com.