"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more” (Isa. 65:17-19, NIV).
We read in the opening sentence of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
God is Creator.
We read in Psalms 148:1-5:
“Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.”
Also, we read in Revelation 4:11:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created
and have their being."
But He also said, “I will create new heavens and a new earth.” He will re-create the heavens and the earth!
While He allows pain, crying and even evil to prosper in the present world, in the new earth, He said, “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy… the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.”
The fulfillment of His Words is pictured in chapters 21-22 of Revelation.
If ever we are blessed with comfort and security at present on this earth, we need to realize that the present “heavens” including this earth will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:12). As God’s children, we should not be contented in this the present reality, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13).
Instead of finding or seeking for a more secure, or for a better place on this earth – our greater longing should be for the new heaven and the new earth.
But why?
Because in that reality, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away"?
Because “…the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal”?
Because we find there “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl”?
Because “The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass”?
Because “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life”?
Or, because we will find there the river “On each side… stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse”?
While all those things are worth longing for and, according to God’s Word, we could really find them in the coming new reality, but our greater excitement and joy when God will re-create the heaven and the new earth – the “home of righteousness” – the King of Righteousness will dwell with us!
God Himself will be living among us!
We read in Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”
Further, we also read: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (Rev. 21:22-23).
Finally, we read in Revelation 22:3-4, “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”
When God will make all things news, when He will live among us, we “will see his face”!
In Exodus 33:18, when Moses asked God, “Now show me your glory."
But God answered:
“’I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live… When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen’” (verses 19-23).
In the new heaven and the new earth, God will no longer hide us in the rock and cover us with His hands and only see His back. We will behold the fullness of His glory! We will see the Beauty and Radiance of His face.
Let’s look forward to the new heaven and the new earth, wherein the Righteous God dwells!
PRAYER: Our Heavenly Father – the Creator of all things and who will make all things new – we praise You for giving us a wonderful picture of the future! No matter what will happen ahead of us, You have revealed to us the glory of the new heaven and the new earth that is surely coming. May You cause more people to rejoice in such great hope – You will be living among us in the fullness of Your Glory! In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
