LEARNING DAILY

 

Isaiah 66:22=23, “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord, “so shall your descendants and your name remain.  And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

 

No, I did not write Isaiah instead of Revelation!  When he wrote The Revelation, John saw that the earth and heavens had passed away and were replaced by new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1).  The prophet Isaiah spoke about the new heavens and new earth which He will make remaining before Him.  John saw the New Jerusalem descend to the earth from above and to become the place where God would live with man forever.  Notice that we do not leave earth to live with God, heaven comes down to earth which has been made new – cleansed of all sin and unrighteousness.  The eventual home for God’s family will be on the new earth.

 

The earth was created by God; it was perfect for man.  It became imperfect when man sinned.  Even when it was defiled, the earth was still a place where man could live.  God had created earth as a place for man to live in communion with Him.  Before sin defiled the earth, there was no death.  Death was the result of sin.  The apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death”.  It is only because the Lord Jesus Christ took our place on the cross and because of His resurrection that those who believe in Him are restored to their original place of fellowship with Him.  There is coming a day when those who believe will be given a new body, a glorified body, suitable or appropriate, and free from imperfections to live on the new earth. 

 

In Romans 8:21, the apostle Paul writes, “because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”  Stop and consider that the earth and all of nature has been subjected to suffering and the physical catastrophes because of man’s sin.  Romans 8:22 continues, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now.”  It is God’s purpose to redeem nature, the new earth will be that redemption.

 

The apostle Peter wrote in his second letter, “But the heavens and earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”  Peter is giving us a pretty good clue to how this present earth will some day be cleansed and made ready for God to inhabit it with His people.  Read a little further and you will see more detail about this coming day.  Talk about “building back better”!  Every time I see or hear that slogan, my mind is going back to what God is going to do and be reminded of my future! 

 

I really can only imagine what this new heaven and new earth will be like.  We are given some insight to heaven in The Revelation 21. You and I need to do all we can to stay on the narrow way that leads there.  In the verses from Isaiah above, we are told we worship God there.  That is encouragement enough for me.