Day 2 - Verse 97 - "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea existed no longer." Revelation 21:1

Just happens that I was in my church today and visited with my pastor, David Ritchie, about two scenes that groups in our church have painted over the last couple of years.  The first one is the Annunciation to Mary by Gabriel of Jesus' first coming.  The second is the revelation to John of Jesus' second coming.  David told me that he plans to have each of the paintings hung in the sanctuary, one on each side, with the church in between.  Makes a perfect picture, doesn't it?  The church today lives in between Jesus' first coming and His second.  We are in this unique period of time..a period of time that one day, as our verse tells us, will pass away.

We are living in the time of the first heaven and the first earth.  As much as we talk about one day being in "heaven", we don't think much about a "new earth" do we?  But we are assured there will be one...and it will be a part of our eternal existence.  What do you think about that?

Robert Morgan says in our reference book, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart, "Too many of us have a vaporous view of eternity.  We picture it as clouds, harps, robes, and never-ending worship services.  But the Bible teaches that God is going to recreate the universe and give us a new planet Earth.  This new Earth will be a lot like the old one, only imperishable.  No sin or sinners.  No sorrow or suffering.  No pain or pollution.  No tears. No death."

Randy Alcorn says, "The first earth serves as the prototype or pattern for the new earth.  There's continuity between old and new.  We should expect new trees, new flowers, new rocks, new rivers, new mountains, and new animals.  As our current bodies are the blueprints for our resurrection bodies, this present earth is the blueprint for the new earth."

I guess I start thinking about perfection...we are told that  "when that which is perfect is come , then that which is in part shall be done away" 1 Corinthians 13:10.  This earth is "in part"...our new earth will be perfection!  Everything that we see good in our earth will become even better...perfect.  And everything that we see broken and ugly in our world will be gone forever.

Can you even begin to imagine?  Think of the most beautiful sight you've ever seen and then try to imagine that same scene exploding in even more brilliant color, without even the slightest hint of any imperfection.  Our new earth will astound us!

As I'm sitting here writing and thinking, Genesis 1:1 shouts to me..."In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

In the beginning, God created the first heaven and the first earth. In the beginning of time.  In the beginning of the ticking of this earthly clock.  And in the end, when time is complete and we move into the wonderful newness of eternity, God will create for us a new heaven and a new earth...perfect places for perfect lives.

And it will be good...forever.

I can't wait.