Last night on 60 Minutes was the segment about a man in Virginia with a large extended family who bought a home where his family could gather for the celebrations they loved to share – birthdays, holidays, get togethers in general with lots of good food and lots of cake! As his sister began to explore the history of this home she uncovered the truth of their own heritage: slavery…in that very house.

There was the beautiful and large white house and also a curious old smaller building. They brought in architectural historians who verified that building, one of the best preserved, once housed 2 slave families. A tale of two worlds: Slave owners and the slaves they owned.

Watching the national news just before that, an 18 year old man filled with racial hate drove 200 miles to kill 10 people shopping at their neighborhood grocery store in a predominantly black neighborhood. A 2nd story of a shooter who entered a Church in California and killed one person, injured several more before the parishioners were able to subdue him. Our local news and someone targeting Asian businesses and now firing into one injuring 3 women…and on…and on…in many states.

As if that wasn’t awful enough, the next story on the national news was of a young 9 year old boy who, with a whip, was hitting the front door of his neighbors because he was so angry with their young daughter who is his age. My heart aches for that boy and for that girl and for their families. I pray God will heal their hearts.

This morning I read Philemon which is a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to Philemon, a slave owner. His slave Onesimus had run away, possibly after stealing. Philemon had the right to kill Onesimus for what he had done. Paul was reminding him that Jesus had died for his sins, setting him free, and was appealing to Philemon, a good man and strong in the Church in Colossae, to welcome his returned slave as a brother in Christ.

This morning from Hearing God by Dallas Willard was the scripture: You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Matthew 16:23.

Yesterday in Church our Pastor talked about what a Church is. He showed a photo of family and friends sitting at a table laden with good food and enjoying each other. I think about that family in Virginia enjoying get togethers with lots of wonderful food and the strengthening that comes from love of family. I think about the early Church meeting in one another’s homes because it was safer, they didn’t have physical buildings – it was all so new – and the love they were able to develop because There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28.

This morning my mind kept grappling with this world and the world to come when Jesus returns. A tale of two worlds.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4.

The old order of things has passed away. Our slavery to sin, to hate, to intolerance, to killing, to greed, to cruelty has passed away. The old order.

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:9.

Can you imagine all of us sitting at the wedding supper of Jesus and enjoying each other’s company and laughing with Jesus who loves each one of us? A tale of two worlds: God who is love and the Accuser who is hate. Which world do you want to grow into? I think we are all slaves. I think we just don’t realize it. We are so used to living in a world that is broken that, like the frog in boiling water, we don’t see it until it’s too late. But God does. How long Lord? Please free us from the slavery of this world and bring us into the glory of Your world.