Paradise Regained.
I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered. Isaiah 65: 17
Why would God recreate new heavens and earth when we read in Genesis 1 that everything God created was seen by God as good? Does creation lose its goodness at some point? In the poem ‘Paradise Lost’, English poet, John Milton, points out that everything changed when the serpent successfully tempted Adam and Eve. Milton somehow makes satan to be the hero in his poem, one who would lead any who would follow, but does not seek to hide the destination of satan’s leading. It is when we chose to follow the leading of any other, apart from God, that paradise becomes lost to us. C.S. Lewis in his book “The Problem of Pain” sets to prove that the presence of pain and suffering in the world was not an act of God, but rather the result of human actions. Human action then caused God to make this promise in our text.
Why would God recreate new heavens and earth when we read in Genesis 1 that everything God created was seen by God as good? Does creation lose its goodness at some point? In the poem ‘Paradise Lost’, English poet, John Milton, points out that everything changed when the serpent successfully tempted Adam and Eve. Milton somehow makes satan to be the hero in his poem, one who would lead any who would follow, but does not seek to hide the destination of satan’s leading. It is when we chose to follow the leading of any other, apart from God, that paradise becomes lost to us. C.S. Lewis in his book “The Problem of Pain” sets to prove that the presence of pain and suffering in the world was not an act of God, but rather the result of human actions. Human action then caused God to make this promise in our text.
What though is represented by this new heavens and new earth? We begin to read from very early in the Bible of the lack of men and women of integrity who were able to stand before the Lord. In Genesis 6, as a precursor to the flood, we see where the Lord saw the wicked inclinations of mankindÂ’s hearts and saw that creation had lost its goodness. Also, Genesis 19 tells us of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot and his family who were the only righteous ones there, were the only ones saved. In Ezekiel 22: 30 God searches for someone to stand on behalf of the creation, but none was worthy. I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. The new heavens and earth then would be GodÂ’s response to this corruption of creation. There would be joy, peace, comfort, security, and everything else that was lacking, present in this new creation. More than that God would be very present there.
Today as we reflect, we recognize that this prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ who brought peace, righteousness, joy and a way to return to harmony with God. We become a part of GodÂ’s new creation then, when we ourselves become new creations through Jesus Christ. It does not end there though as John in Revelation 21: 1 speaks of a new heaven and earth. This is the final re-establishment of GodÂ’s paradise on earth. Things will be as they were meant to be and we shall be re-imaged to be like our Lord and Savior. In this new creation, the elect of God will dwell and nothing will be able to stand in the way of our relationship with God. Lost paradise will be fully regained for GodÂ’s elect. What a day that will be! Let us therefore allow GodÂ’s recreating power to be at work in our lives, preparing us for habitation of that new heaven and earth.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
Today as we reflect, we recognize that this prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ who brought peace, righteousness, joy and a way to return to harmony with God. We become a part of GodÂ’s new creation then, when we ourselves become new creations through Jesus Christ. It does not end there though as John in Revelation 21: 1 speaks of a new heaven and earth. This is the final re-establishment of GodÂ’s paradise on earth. Things will be as they were meant to be and we shall be re-imaged to be like our Lord and Savior. In this new creation, the elect of God will dwell and nothing will be able to stand in the way of our relationship with God. Lost paradise will be fully regained for GodÂ’s elect. What a day that will be! Let us therefore allow GodÂ’s recreating power to be at work in our lives, preparing us for habitation of that new heaven and earth.
Till next Tuesday, be blessed!
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