A Future World

By Heath Jarrett

In Creation God exhibits his strength and knowledge (Is 40). But, awesome as the initial creation is, how much more will the new creation be, in which every curse of sin is fully and finally reversed? Creation out of nothing is marvelous but a new creation out of a universe saturated with depravity is much more glorious. That’s the coming power of God extended to us in Jesus Christ.

With unlimited power and wisdom at his command, God is funneling every thing in history toward his goal: living with us in a new and better Paradise (Rev 21:1–4). Every event and molecule, every person and galaxy is under the control of God (Is 40, see last week’s article). Along a charted course, they all march toward his grand finale.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I 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 the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away'” (Rev 21:1–4).

Christian, the day is coming when our family, friends, and health will not pass away. Rather, all “the former things” of our grief-filled world will have “passed away” (Rev 21:4). What will remain, enduring for eternity, is a home where God lives with his people. The entrance of sin into Eden never diminished God’s desire to dwell with man. The redemption of Christ makes it all possible.

Weaving together the many threads of the Bible, God’s final chapter of redemption is promised and portrayed at the close of
Revelation. God, who walked in the garden with man, who filled the tabernacle with his glory, who became flesh and dwelt (literally tabernacled) with man, and sent his Spirit to dwell in the church (as the temple of God) will unveil the new creation where “the dwelling place (tabernacle) of God is with man” (Rev 21:3).

Come, Lord Jesus, come!