Scripture Reading(s)
Isaiah 65:17-25
65:17 For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.
65:19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.
65:20 No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
65:21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
65:22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
65:23 They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD– and their descendants as well.
65:24 Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.
65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent–its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.
Reflections
This passage is referring to a time in which Christ is coming to set right what has been made wrong. Christ is coming back to redeem the church, its people and eradicate sin and restore the earth back to what it was originally created to be:without sin. Essentially this is referring to Christ’s return to this earth and taking us to spend eternity with Him.
This will be a time in which we will no longer have to worry about life’s struggles, temptation to sin, hurt, loss or pain. This will usher in a new era in which we experience a world without sin, filled with true joy, peace and a time to worship our King for all that He’s done for us.
This is a message that ought to fill our hearts with hope because this is what we as Christians long for. We long for the day when we can finally meet our Savior face to face and stand in awe of who He is and worship Him because He has saved us from eternal punishment and will now have the privilege of being able to spend forever with Him.
I look forward to the day when evil no longer has its grip on this world and when Christ destroys the wickedness once and for all. This is something that we can prepare for from now by spreading the good news of the gospel to others around us, living each day for the glory of God and praising Him for all that He’s done.
God’s people had spent a lot of time in war a turmoil during the lifetime of Isaiah. They were defeated by their foes and taken into captivity. However, God did not leave them without hope. He did not withhold His vision from them. Even in the midst of their suffering God was there. He was there and He was preparing them for a new era. One that would be like no other and it’s kingdom will not end.
We also experience difficult times. But like the Israelites God has a vision for us. He has not left us and has not abandoned us. He has called you and I to be His heirs and we will dwell with Him for eternity. In this life we have nothing to fear since God is on our side. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans,
If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
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