One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible is found in Revelation 22.3. “No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” This is around the middle of John’s description of the new heaven and the new earth. The battle is over. The smoke has cleared. Evil is finally defeated, and we now stand on the edge of the rest of eternity, feasting our eyes on the complete and utter fulfillment of all of God’s promises.

“No longer will there be anything accursed.” Just think about that. No more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more crying or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21.4). This is what God has been promising since mankind waded into an ocean of sin in Genesis 3. On that day we proudly said, “Not your way God, but my way!” And ever since then there’s been a curse in this world. In every aspect of our experience, there is something that is against us. Isn’t that true in your experience? But God’s promise has always been that one day creation will be renewed. It will not remain under that curse forever. Evil will not be allowed to linger here in God’s world.

Romans 8 tells us that the creation itself has been groaning for this day when it will be restored and renewed. Always remember that this is the bigger picture of what Christianity is all about. It’s not just about the saving of individual souls (though individual souls are most certainly included!). But it’s also about nothing less than the renewal of everything. Every thing. All of God’s creation. That’s the promise and that’s what Jesus is doing—rolling back the curse and renewing creation.

Which brings me to your vocation. What Jesus is doing in all of creation is a picture of what the faithful Christian is to do in his or her vocation—rolling back the curse and bringing renewal to that little part of God’s world. No matter what your vocation may be… plumbing, law, finance, computer technology, housebuilding, politics, childrearing, education, landscaping, butcher, baker, candlestick maker …your calling is to follow Jesus in whatever station he has placed you. Destroy the evil that is there (corruption, poor performance, sloppy standards, etc.) and bring healing. Do your work in such a way that brings glory to God! All creation is to bow the knee to Christ, including your vocation. Whatever it is, God created it, and he intends to renew and restore it. And if you are a Christian, you are the means through which he is doing so.

As Isaac Watts wrote in his great Christmas hymn,

“No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make his blessing flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.”