He Makes All Thing New

“For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed. People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For My people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord along with their descendants. Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on My entire holy mountain,” says the Lord.

God’s Revelation is progressive. In other words, as the Bible unfolds from the Old Testament to the New, many things are clarified and explained.

When Isaiah wrote 65-66, God was giving him prophetic revelation of things to come that are not as clear and concise as what John would one day write in Revelation 21 an following.

Some of the things Isaiah talks about point us to the eternal kingdom, but others point to the 1000 year reign of Christ before God brings a final judgment on the world, and eternity begins.

For instance in verse 17 he talks about a new heaven and new earth that point to the eternal kingdom.

But he also speaks of people living to be a ripe old age before they die and we know that no one dies in heaven.

The point is that when we read Isaiah we can be tempted to treat all this as one event, but God gave clearer understanding in the Book of Revelation.

All of this points us toward the fact that this world is not as it intended to be, nor as it will be.

The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah Original Meaning

The fact is that all the effects of human choice are not experienced in this life. Justice is not entirely served here, as any of us can relate. All the good that is done here is not rewarded here, and all the evil that is done here is not punished here. So if God says that his servants will be blessed, as he did in 65:13–16, either he is a liar, or this world is not all there is to reality. These verses tell us that the latter is the case.

Verse 17 no doubt points to eternity but it seems to me the rest of the chapter points to the 1000 year reign of Christ.

I suppose theologians will argue about that until it happens and we find out. BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN GAIN FROM THIS NO MATTER HOW WE SEE IT UNFOLDING.

God’s Kingdom involves Israel.

Isaiah 65:18–19 HCSB

Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her.

The whole Bible centers in on one thing: How will God fix this broken world, and save sinners?

All the way through the Bible we see the formation of the Israel to be the Nation from which Jesus would be born to save the whole world from sin.

We see the God’s love for Jerusalem as the capital of the Holy Land and the place from where Messiah will rule and reign.

It is my deeply held belief that God still has a plan for the Holy Land and plan that Israel will turn to Him and follow Him.

God’s Kingdom Values Life

Isaiah 65:20 HCSB

In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed.

God values life from the womb to the tomb.

Today there is no place we feel the effect of sin more than the funeral home.

The sadness of death reminds us that we live in a fallen world that needs restoration.

I have preached more than my fair share of SIDS related funerals. I have seen the sadness in the eyes of mom who miscarry. I have watched senior adult men and women lose the desire to live when they spouse of decades passes away.

I have seen the horrible effect of abortion on moms. I recent study stated that over 70% of moms who abort their baby do so under pressure from others. This doesn’t bode well for a right to choose.

Our culture no longer values the aged

But God plans to turn this around. Long healthy life and the value of life will be realized

God’s Kingdom Values Personal Responsibility

Isaiah 65:21–22 HCSB

People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For My people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

This is easy to miss… But people will take responsibility for themselves. People will… they will..

There is something about getting your hands dirty. Having a hand in making something…growing something. doing something. This is mine. I did this. I created this. etc.

God’s Kingdom Values Ownership

Isaiah 65:21–22 HCSB

As best as I can tell when God fixes this world people will both take responsibility for themselves and not seek to take what belongs to someone else.

There will be no marauders or governments seizing what you worked for. There will be no entitled people believing if you have such and such you owe part of it to them.

God’s Kingdom Elevates Prayer

Isaiah 65:24 HCSB

Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear.

How does this happen.

1. People will have trusted Jesus on a global scale. They will have turned from sin and been saved.

2. People will not have undealt with sin in their lives.

3. People will pray Kingdom oriented prayers.

4. God will be close, the fellowship will be sweet. Nothing will be there that will hinder prayer on our part or God answering on His.

I sure long for this. I can’t wait for the day that my fellowship with the Lord is that close.. that sweet.. that clean.

God’s Kingdom Brings Peace at all levels.

This is seen in the animal kingdom getting along. Kind of a repackaging of what was taught in chapter 11. Such peace and love. It is all the things that the “free love” fringe groups of the last 50 years have claimed to have wanted. Except they believe the pathway to peace is the removal of all religion. This is seen in John Lennon’s “Imagine” Imagine there’s no heaven… its easy if you try… no hell below us… above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today. ..... Imagine there’s no conflict.. nothing to die for or to kill… imagine no religion too.

Let’s be clear the goal of peace and harmony and restoring the world’s ills is a beautiful thought. but the Atheistic drivel of the Beatles will not get us there.

The problem is we can’t achieve that Utopia. We can’t even agree on what it would be.

Only Jesus can do that. Only the Prince of Peace can make that change.. in your heart… in our world. Only he Can Restore.

What should we do.

Be sure you know Jesus. Have you been saved?

Be sure that you are telling other’s that God intends to fix this world.

Pray “Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.”

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