New Heaven & New Earth
The current heaven & earth have been tainted by sin, so they must be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10). The current heaven (where God is and where saints are) is NOT our final destination. It is a beautiful garden, it is paradise, but it is not where we will live forever. The future heaven isn't really heaven at all ... it's a city (New Jerusalem), 1,500 mi sq. - that's HUGE! It's the distance from Boston to Miami and from Denver to Charlotte. What's more, it's taller than the orbit of most space-craft! In total, it will have 12 separate levels, which God brings down to a new earth. God will finally be "with man" & "with them" (see Rev. 21:1-5). It is the fulfillment of Emmanuel. And, just like Eden, God meets with men face to face - in all of His glory and radiance.
New Body
Our current bodies could not fully enjoy or survive long enough in such a perfect world, so God intends for us to have perfected bodies (1 Cor. 15:49-55). These new bodies will be sinless, healthy, strong, youthful, and never wear out! It's your body - only resurrected and remade. It's you - only totally restored, completely overhauled. In Phil. 3:21, the Apostle Paul says that we will have a glorified body - just like Jesus' body (1 Jn 3:2). What does that mean? Well, according to Luke 24:39, Jesus had a literal flesh/bones body - just without limits (was not as hindered by matter and time). Again, it's YOU - looking good and feeling fine. It's you, only better!
New Life
Eternity will be filled with exciting activities that would make any tropical resort's events look more like an anemic nursing home's calendar! Activities will include (but not be limited to):
- Glorifying God (worship as a way of life) by enjoying Him forever (Rev. 4-5)
- Ruling & reigning over cities, nations, angels ... maybe even planets & galaxies (2 Tim 2:12)
- Building your own home & planting your garden (Isa 65:17-25)
*It looks like you could have 2 homes: a condo in the city (John 14:2) and a cabin in the country, too!
- Eating the best food & enjoying renewed relationships with others (Rev. 19)
- Exploring the vastness of God and all of His creation (Isa 9:7)
New Heart
Heaven is perfect. But could be possible that because of our sin, we wouldn't like certain parts of it? (for example: It might be too big for some. Too bright. Wrong colors. Too crowded. Too much singing. Too many minorities...) Actually, this might be something we would have to worry about if we didn't get a 'heart transplant' like Ezekiel prophesied (Ezek. 36:26-27). We are given new desires, new loves, new motives. A fresh, clean slate without a past!
This new heart is the best of your personality ... all strengths, no weaknesses. It is uniquely you, not cloned or robotic, but driven to please God and find pleasure in all the right things.
The New Now
God desires to make your soul -heaven-ready- today (2 Cor. 5:17). Will you allow Him to restore, renew, and redeem your soul? At the moment you surrender to Him, your NEW life of eternity begins. Dear Christian, If you have been saved for very long, then you may feel as if your salvation is not as new as it used to be - but that's not the way God sees it. Your salvation is forever new in Christ. It never fades, rusts, and doesn't needs to be maintenanced. Have you lost the freshness and joy of your salvation? Let God remind you that He has made it new and it's still just as new as the day you first believed. Live in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
