“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
(2 Peter 3:13)
Recently, our dear brother, Uwe, showed me many beautiful pictures from his vacation in Ontario. Among them were some stunning pictures of sunrises over a placid lake. The lake’s surface reflected perfectly and flawlessly, as in a mirror, the sun and clouds in the sky above. The beautiful symmetry reminded me of the Lord’s prayer. “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Uwe’s stunning pictures act as a kind of symbolic representation of what the world will be like one day when the Lord at long last answers our prayers and earth becomes like heaven. Though this entails more amazing things than we can possibly imagine to be sure (1 Corinthians 2:9), the Bible does provide a few blessed details. First and foremost, as God now dwells in heaven with a glorified Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, He will one day dwell on the earth with myriads of redeemed people who will bear the image of His dear Son. God will consider these blessed souls, with whom we will be numbered, both established in righteousness and confirmed in holiness (Revelation 21:1-5; 22:11). The threat of sickness and the spectre of death, so prevalent in the earth since the fall of man, have no place in heaven where God dwells. The inhabitants of heaven—angelic creatures, redeemed souls, even God Himself—live freely and harmoniously without the slightest fear of disease, sickness, death or loss. We praise God that He has chosen a day in which these heavenly blessings will be forever realized on earth. Our Lord has given His beloved disciple, John, a glimpse of the future in which heaven will literally touch and transform the earth into its own image. How grateful we are for the inspired description John has given to us. “I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’” (Revelation 21:2-4). As heaven exists in the perpetual light of God’s glory, the very radiance of which is the Lord Jesus Himself (Hebrews 1:1-3), earth too will one day enjoy the perpetual light of His immediate and glorious presence (Revelation 21:23-24). Be encouraged, dear saints, the best is yet to come.“These words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:5).
God bless,
pastor john
English