The New Is Coming

But it’s also possible that Isaiah is mixing his metaphors where he begins with the new heaven and earth in eternity in verse one, but then switches to the millennium in the very next verse. But whatever the case may be, everything will be changed, and no one is going to be nostalgic for the past.

It’ll be a place that’s free of weeping and sorrow because long life will be the order of the day. A lifespan of 100 years or more will be so commonplace that if someone should die before 100 years then everyone will look upon them as if they were cursed for some reason. Verse 19 speaks of the 100-year lifespan, but verse 22 also speaks of the lifetime of a tree and how God’s chosen will live long enough to wear out everything they’ve built. So, that’s a long time. We’ve got trees all over the world that have been around for thousands of years.

We also won’t have to worry about enemies raining on our parade either, because we’ll be able to enjoy the fruit of our labors. Where Isaiah says Isa 65:21-22 …they shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (22) "They shall not build, and another inhabit, They shall not plant, and another eat; all this is reminiscent of not only when the Israelites entered the Promised land under Joshua, and took over the land and the lodgings of it’s former inhabitants, but it also speaks to the still to come and more recent experience of having their own homes and property taken away from them and given to others when they will be taken into captivity. Folks, there are not many things more disheartening than spending your life working and building something, only to have it taken away from you and your family. Our own government does this through death taxes, but in the millennium, these things will be long gone.

Children will be born into prosperity. In other words, even up to less than 100 years ago, children who didn’t survive birth was fairly common. Many of those who did survive never made it to their 2nd birthday. But stillbirths and infant death will no longer be a fear. And our relationship with Christ will be such that even before we call to Him, He will answer. Now, can you imagine that? Isa 65:24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

You know, I’m sure that all of us have experienced the power of prayer, but I’m equally sure that all of us have also experienced the frustration of prayer too. Sometimes we wonder if God really did hear us. More than once I’ve felt that my prayers rose to the ceiling and then bounced right back down to me. Many times, if we get an answer, it’s not the one we wanted or expected. Other times we might find ourselves trying to pray but not knowing how—or maybe we’re just mouthing empty words that just don’t express the longings of our heart.

Or, and this has happened to me several times, but maybe we pray and fall asleep like the disciples did in the garden, or we want to pray for someone who’s requested it, and then we forget. We fail to follow through on a promise we’ve made. But what this verse suggest to me is that whatever our inadequacy in prayer may be, it will be no barrier to communicating with God! He is able to understand our clumsiest prayers, and even the unspoken requests of our heart.