6 Minute Read + Scripture readings
Today’s Bible Reading:
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Revelation 21:1–3 (CSB): “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
If you do a search on my website, you will notice that I have quoted Revelation 21:1 a lot of times. That’s because it had an incredibly profound impact upon me quite a few years ago.
I used to think that Heaven was “up there” somewhere. I knew that I wouldn’t be sitting on clouds for the rest of eternity but my understanding of Heaven was so uninformed that I just didn’t know what it was going to be like. I certainly hoped that it wouldn’t be a long, long, long church service.
And then I read Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven.” He pointed out so many of the verses in Scripture that referred to my Heavenly home. But, it was when he highlighted Revelation 21-22 that I realized that the future Heaven is literally a brand new earth!
Wherever Heaven is right now, it’s not the final and ultimate location of Heaven. The last two chapters of Revelation tell us that the future Heaven is a new earth. We will live on a brand new, created earth that is inhabited by only those who have been forgiven and declared righteous because they trusted in Jesus to save them. Because there is no sin, there is no curse (Genesis 3) and no consequences of sin.
Revelation 21:4 (CSB): “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
Simply put, we were made for planet earth. The bodies we currently reside inside of are made of earth. We read in Genesis 2:7 that the first man was made of earth. Later, when God told Moses to take his sandals off because he was on holy ground (Exodus 3:5), it was because God wanted Moses to remember that he was made of earth as his bare feet touched the dirt.
If our heavenly home was “out there” somewhere, we would be sorely out of place. First Corinthians 15 clearly teaches that our earthly bodies will one day be resurrected, miraculously turned into eternal, immortal bodies, and we will enjoy residing in those bodies for eternity. Friend, those resurrection bodies are made for earth.
If you want to understand a little bit more about the eternal home of believers, just purchase “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. Have your Bible open as you read it because Randy does a wonderful job of highlighting and explaining what the Scripture teaches about the place that we will enjoy forever.
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Lord Jesus, when I look around me, I become ever more thankful that this world isn’t my home – I’m just a passin’ through. Thank You that my Bible gives me so much to think about as I look forward to being with You forever. Help me to keep my eyes on the finish line when I can be with You and enjoy You on a brand new earth one day where neither sin nor its horrible consequences will ever be experienced again. Praise Your Name! Amen.
Matt’s Musings 
Thank you Pastor this was a wonderful message for today. It’s great to know that the earth will be beautiful and peaceful. When God spreads his hands and does his work it will certainly be welcome.
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Thank you, Laura. I had read the last two chapters of Revelation and other sections of Scripture before that said that the future Heaven is a new earth but it never clicked until about 10 years ago. When I began to realize that Heaven is going to be a New Earth (Revelation 21:1) that is inhabited not by innocent people (like Adam and Eve) but by righteous people incapable of sin, it became all the more beautiful to me. God made mankind for earth. That’s why our resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15) are so important. And that’s why Jesus took His resurrection body (in which He ate a fish dinner, and Thomas touched it, etc.) to Heaven. Heaven is more real than most Christians realize and the fact that Heaven will come to earth (the New Jerusalem will settle on the New Earth) is incredible to think about! We will have all of eternity to explore God’s vast creation and praise Him continually for it.
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Highly commendable!
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Thank you, Subrata.
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