February 13: THE WORLD TO COME (part 1)

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Revelation 21:1

Though the condition of the earth today is a far cry from its original pristine condition, we can exercise our holy imaginations to envision it without trash, pollution, and decay. The sin of man has negatively affected the entire planet, including the atmosphere. Animals suffer terribly, along with people. Those among us who dedicate their lives to the relief of suffering have certainly done a great deal of good among God’ creatures, both human and animal. But the truest and only lasting relief of suffering comes in gaining a plain understanding of the cause of suffering: sin, which is equated in the Bible with disobedience to God (Leviticus 26:21; Deuteronomy 6:18; 28:15; Hebrews 4:6).

And though He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), God’s promise of lasting, uninterrupted blessing is conditional. A clue to this truth is the tiny word “if”. Consider this amazing promise, and think of the woe, misery, pain, and suffering that has ensued due to its disregard: “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26) Oh, how He desires for His children to be healthy and whole! A sound body and mind go together as a unit. Such a one is more accepting of the truth of the Lord’s word than one who pursues unhealthy habits.

Genesis 1:20 refers to earth’s atmosphere as the face of the firmament of the heavens. This is the heaven referred to in our opening verse. It will be perfectly purified and cleansed, according to the Standard of purity set by the Most High!

God’s people were also given instructions that would allow the earth to renew itself, according to divine design, such as: “Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you [and your household and guests and animals]—all its produce shall be for food.” (Leviticus 25:3-7) Imagine the blessings of that year of rest the farmers and their families could have enjoyed every seven years. Farming is hard work! Allowing the land to rest was also a test of faith that would have meant ongoing blessings for themselves and for others. What a witness it could have been! Failure to observe this practice has resulted in depleted soil, inferior crops, and desperate grappling after man-made solutions that hardly make for any long-term benefits, while inflicting much harm upon the environment and its inhabitants. Be it known that the inheritance of the meek will be an unimaginably pristine, sparkling world free of the curse of sin.

But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalm 37:11 (see also Matthew 5:5).