““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” Isaiah 65:17 ESV
Reflection: what kind of future do you want?
Being responsible for strategy for a large, multinational business, I learned to look at macro trends in many facets of world and domestic affairs, such as in culture, economy, business and technology. It was like trying to make sense of a bunch of unorganized puzzle pieces, but without the end picture to start with. What I found very interesting, was the ability to define what that final picture should look like, given the puzzle pieces provided. Not all the pieces were necessary, but some were crucial to complete the picture I envision.
In a similar way, we are reminded from the visions of Isaiah today of a future that is very different than what we see in the world today. And we see that the Lord is behind the future vision; it is Him that is painting that picture. From the starting verse, we hear the Lord speaking ““For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.”Isaiah 65:17-19 ESV. Already we see that the Lord has something very different in mind. We see joy, we see gladness that will replace weeping and distress we all feel today. And, He goes on explaining why.
“No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:20-24 ESV.
Did any of this surprise you? In a way we see elements of living as we know it today, right? With birth of children, growing old, and dying, etc. Building homes and planting vineyards. Working. Almost seems like what we experience today? But with big changes. There is the intended long life (100s of years?), no disease, no theft, and so on. And we even read about a change in nature. “The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.” Isaiah 65:25 ESV. So what are we looking at here?
Certainly, it is a vision of our Lord, of what He desires for us. And, He says He is doing it, creating this future for us. And, of course, this is reminiscent of what we find in Revelation, “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. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 ESV. However, there appears to be some differences between Isaiah’s vision and John’s vision, such as God is dwelling with His people, and there is no death. So did Isaiah see the final new heavens and new earth, or did he see the millennium kingdom?
There is a great thought here also for us as God’s people, for each of us to consider today. God has shared with us what He has in mind for our future. But, question is, what sort of future do we envision and want? Is that aligned with God’s vision? Are we serving Him, helping Him towards that future vision?
