“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”
Isaiah 65:17 (NIV)
Last time we were together I was sharing how God showed me that while I want to live this life without regrets for Him, part of doing that involves taking time to enjoy life, really enjoy the experiences He gives me instead of rushing through and wearing myself out prematurely.
God tells us in Isaiah that He will create new heavens and a new earth. In the past I had thought of Heaven (very unfairly I might add) as somewhere that I get to worship God 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… and unfortunately, that thought left me a little bored. I love my Heavenly Father more than I love anyone here on earth. I love to sing worship songs, I love to read Christian books and the Bible and talk about and with God, but I thought, if that’s all I’m going to do, won’t I be bored?
Then I read a book about Heaven and it gave me a new perspective. God talks in the Bible about how this life is preparation for eternity. While living on the earth, we are learning about the ultimate relationship of the Bridegroom of Christ to us the church through the model of marriage as well as unconditional love of God (our parent) to us (his children). This life, earth, is practice for our eternal home.
I truly believe that the practice we are given here on earth extends beyond relational practice, but also to our individual gifts, talents, likes, dislikes and quirky personalities. I believe that all of those things are part of how God is preparing us for the jobs and duties and purpose that we will fulfill on the new earth.
I don’t have all the answers, such as I wonder what types of work doctors, policemen, and lawyers will be performing in Heaven where sin doesn’t exist and therefore, sickness and crime don’t exist. However, God is God and I’m sure that they are learning skills for roles that God has waiting for them to fulfill.
When I think about Heaven along those lines, our new earth that God is going to give us, the earth that He wanted for us to begin with before sin entered, it gets exciting! To be able to live a life of passion and fulfilling my purpose without the interference of sin? No hurt feelings? Never getting tired? The ability to relax and commune with God or better yet, I can commune with Him the whole time I’m fulfilling my role – that excites me.
Do I know what exactly it will look like? Nope. But I don’t care. This is one time in my life I don’t want to be in charge and I’m willing to wait patiently. I trust God enough and I love God enough to know that whatever His plan, it will be GREAT! Not good, not passable, not mediocre, but terrific.
And that one truth leads me to the main truth: If I can trust God with my eternal future, resting in the assurance that what He has planned will be fantastic, then I can definitely trust Him with the temporary issues I face here on earth. And, if He’s willing to take care of my temporary issues here on earth, how much more is He excited about showing me around my new home in eternity?
So while I firmly believe it’s important to live with no regrets here on earth, it’s comforting to know this is just preparation for an eternity that I can’t even begin to imagine.
© Cheri Swalwell 2016