How about Brand New Heavens and Earth?

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35.

One day when Jesus was sitting on the mount of olives, the disciples came to him privately to ask questions about what the future holds. They were curious about certain specific future matters that bothered their mind and knew Jesus could answer their questions. Jesus said to them many things regarding the end time signs, which you can read in Matthew 24:1-34, and finally, He made this statement, which is our insight today.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” This reveals the temporary nature of heaven and earth we see now and the eternality of the words of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is eternal, and therefore His words are eternal.

Beloved, this may be a new idea to many because heaven and earth were there as long as we go back to collect human history. Numerous people died and disappeared, but heaven and earth remained. However, the Bible affirms the truth that this heaven and earth will pass away in the future and be replaced by a new heaven and earth.

God promised in the old testament Scriptures in Isaiah 65:17. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” Isaiah, the prophet, graphically described this incident in 34:4 like this, “The sun, moon, and stars will dissolve, and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll. The stars will fall like dead leaves from a vine and dried up figs from a fig tree.” However, listen! God Himself assured the security of the people who accepted His offer of salvation in these words in Isaiah 51:6, “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever; my righteousness will never fail.”

Now, after explaining the future events yet to happen, Jesus attested to the promise already made years ago in the Scriptures. Beloved, one-day heaven and earth will pass away. God will do it as he promised. This world is tainted and contaminated by sin –the original sin of our first parents and the subsequent sins of all people, and it needs replacement.

Romans 8 says we know everything God made has been waiting until now in pain, like a woman ready to give birth… people do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently. The whole creation, including people, is waiting for God’s salvation – to free us from the curse and bondage of sin inherited to us.

In 2nd Peter 3:13, Peter shared his desire for the promise God already made for new heavens and new earth. Listen to what he wrote, “according to His promise (referring to the promise of God); we are looking for the new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

John saw the vision of the fulfillment of this promise and recorded it in the Bible’s final book in chapter 21. It says, “then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passes away, and there is no longer any sea.” The new earth does not have a sea. However, he saw brand new heaven and earth coming out of heaven from God. It looks so beautiful and glorious like a bride beautifully adorned for her husband. Then John heard the voice from the throne of heaven. It said, “Behold the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them in the new heaven and earth. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no longer any death. No more mourning, or crying or pain.” Then it says the first things (referring to the present heaven and earth) have passed away as God promised in the old testament scriptures.

Beloved, what a great, victorious, beautiful, and glorious that day would be! Can you imagine the greatness of the new heaven and earth, God going to send from heaven? No sea, no more death, no mourning, crying, or pain. God is among men in the new heaven and earth, as initially intended in the garden of Eden. The righteousness reigns all over the new earth and heaven. No taints of sin and rebelliousness. No more temptation of our adversary devil, the old serpent, who deceived our first parents. The one who hates Adam’s posterity, the devil, and his gangs will be thrown in the lake of fire forever. (Revelation 19:20). Peace and righteousness last forever and ever.

As God promised the salvation of God would last forever, His righteousness will never fail. Dearly beloved, are you saved yet? God’s salvation comes not with your best efforts and works. It comes in a person called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died, buried, and victoriously rose again for your sins and shortcomings to grant you eternal salvation.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know I need your salvation that lasts forever. I need your righteousness that will never fail. I know I am fallen short in many ways. I need the savior. I acknowledge I am a sinner. I believe You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die in my place to save me and reconcile with the Father in heaven. I accept Jesus as my savior now. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”