There’s A Lot To Look Forward To 3rd Sunday in End Time November 14, 2004
Isaiah 65:17-25 17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 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. 19 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. 20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. 23 They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ:
Where are you going? The question implies that you have plans. Everyone has plans, and in our daily lives those plans are carried out in one way or another, and for some purpose, be that business or pleasure, or service of others. In other words, when you have plans, you are looking forward to something.
The Lord of our lives, our Creator, Savior and Judge also asks the question, "Where are you going?" Knowing the hurts and the weightiness of living under sinful conditions, the Lord has made it possible for us to look forward to something very special, heaven. This morning I want you to try to block out any present burdens, and just let your imagination go. Think about the implications of these words that Isaiah wrote about heaven. And when we’re all done talking about it, you will agree that THERE’S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO. Particularly: 1. Unmarred joy 2. Unlimited life
It doesn’t take one long to understand the conditions in a sinful world. The people of God in Isaiah’s day understood well. They could recall some bitter times, and some almost unbearable situations when joy seemed like a lost commodity. The trip to the promised land was long and dangerous for their bodies and souls.
How many places in the present world are there where joy isn’t marred by weather conditions, fires, tornadoes, oil spills, bombs, terrorists, or someone’s garbage carelessly left behind? But come the end of time, there will be a change in all that. "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth," God said. This is how the writer to the Hebrews speaks of the contrast between the old and new: "In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe." The shell, the make up of this world will remain, but everything within will become new.
In God’s new creation, where will heaven be? We don’t know the exact place. That’s unimportant. What is important is this: "The former things will not be remembered." Do you know what I think of first? Our sins. Think of all the human relationships marred by sin. Nothing does that better than jealousy, self-centeredness, selfish ambitions, and anger. That’s terrorism of our own making, and aimed at others. You and I have our names written on those sins. And the gloomy verdict is that each sin separates us from God. For just one sin, we shouldn’t even be talking about the prospect of heaven - except for the grace of God. He sent His Son to heal the broken relationship between our Creator and us, not by magic, or the snap of His fingers, or by gold and silver, but by the only payment for sin acceptable to God, the body and blood of Jesus. Through that sacrifice He has put sins behind His back. He doesn’t remember them any more.
What else won’t be remembered in heaven? Our imperfect bodies. How frequently and suddenly some dysfunction in our bodies causes disruption of our plans and schedules. In heaven - incorruptible bodies. Not just strong bodies, but bodies free from frailties, weaknesses, defects, unchallenged by disease, living in a home where the services of doctors and medicines are a thing of the past, not to be remembered. Everything will be perfect.
That includes the image of God being fully restored in us. The way in which Adam and Eve were created, we will finally inherit in heaven: true righteousness and holiness, and a blissful knowledge of God. That’s really soothing, because at times in our weaknesses we’d like to ask God, "Why?" For now we have to be content and trust in His will, knowing that some day in heaven we’ll know why God permitted the evil of a tragedy or sorrow in our lives.
But don’t count on a long question and answer session with God. Asking about why this sadness, or about that mystery back on earth implies thinking of the past. Don’t forget: former things won’t be remembered. God makes the whole thing simple when He says, "Then we shall know fully, even as we are fully known now."
Frustrations won’t be remembered either. Isaiah referred to the frustration of building houses, but being unable to live in them, and the planting and caring for vineyards without enjoying the taste of the fruit. You’re also acquainted with the hand wringing nature of frustrations. Some times things that we assume are godly don’t work out, no matter how hard we try. Perhaps because of personal sins or the sins of others, or God’s time table, plans didn’t materialize. We feel like saying, "I don’t know whether to laugh or cry" because we are frustrated.
But not in heaven. No one will have to anticipate a possible failure in anything. Nothing will be in vain. There will not be the prospect of children overtaken by some calamity, or any kind of disappointment. Sorrow is unknown in heaven. Nothing is marred. We’ll have the pure, unmarred joy of living under the eternal grace of God in the midst of brand new surroundings with perfect bodies and the absence of all frustrations. For sure, there’s a lot to look forward to!
And there is more! God also promises unlimited life. Here, we all know how frail life can be at any age. We live with the possibility that life can be snuffed out any minute by sudden catastrophe, terrors of crime or the pain of disease.
But our hope is always in the work of Jesus. He conquered death. It couldn’t keep Him in the grave. And He promises the same resurrection for us. You also will live and live and live. No death in heaven. No loss of a baby. No one leaving in the prime of life. No premature death, because perfect people can’t die, but just live forever.
To illustrate the endlessness of eternity, Isaiah refers to a giant tree so old and with so many rings that blend in with each other that you can’t tell how old it is. Or he talks also about a baby whose infancy is 100 years. There’s no end to the rest of his life. Eternity likewise is too big too grasp.
We just need to know that among all believers one condition will prevail: true harmony. Now, our sinful nature prevents that. Even the oneness among believers isn’t always pretty. Through the Gospel, God changes hearts and will keep on filling us with His gifts of love, peace, joy kindness, etc. But even those gifts can be tainted with sin, and not be as satisfying to us and others as we’d like.
But in heaven, unlimited life with pure harmony among all, like before the Fall. The wolf did not prey on a helpless lamb. In heaven, under God’s gracious supervision, everything will be in harmony with everything else. Everyone’s thoughts, desires and deeds will be in harmony with the will of God.
In other words, full satisfaction guaranteed by the promise of God. Our Lord wants us to be sure of that. "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear." You’ve been a guest of someone who says, "If you need anything else, just ask." God makes that promise now already. And it’s nice to know that before we ask concerning a need, He already has a solution. In heaven I believe we’ll not need to ask for anything. God will have provided the best, forever.
Some times it’s hard to imagine what we’ll do forever. From Isaiah’s words it sounds like an eternity of expressing mutual happiness and praise. "I will take delight in My people," God says. He’ll be talking about His joy over the elect, perfect people without spot, wrinkle or blemishes in the literal and spiritual sense, all wearing the white robes of righteousness through the cleansing blood of Jesus. And believers will be praising Him for His wonderful deeds of love and mercy. Perfect people won’t tire of being with a Savior and joining in the saints’ and angels’ choirs to sing praise, honor and glory to the Lamb forever. There’s a lot to look forward to!
Meanwhile, we need to be very serious about being prepared. The days are evil. Some people will try to make heaven on their own. Some won’t endure to the end and drop out of the race prematurely. God will be so patient with unbelievers and the impenitent until He will finally consider them cursed.
To each of us, Jesus sounds a warning because of the evil times ahead: the love of most will grow cold. That makes proper preparation of the utmost necessity. So examine yourselves spiritually, repent of sins, and don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world. Lay up spiritual treasures for yourselves through the daily use of Word, and the Sacrament when it’s offered. They will keep you close to Jesus, and all others with whom we share the Word and whom the Spirit brings to faith.
The ticket to heaven which we now hold, dear friends, doesn’t have a date on it, nor a method by which we get there. God could bring the world to an end and take us home bodily. If He doesn’t do that, then He has arranged for us to go through that Valley. But wait - don’t let that thought erase anything we have talked about today. It’s just that we can’t reach our home above without passing through the valley of the shadow of death. But we’re not afraid because our best Friend long ago went through that valley and made death only a shadow. And ever since we were brought to faith, we have in writing His promise never to leave us or forsake us. He’ll walk with us through that valley.
So, dear friends, no matter what happens in our personal lives, or how heavy our crosses become, don’t be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer, and remember to look ahead to that Home of unmarred joy and unlimited life. Yes, there is a lot to look forward to! Amen
