while today

What is the fate of this present world? One day, this world and all of its works will pass away. As Peter writes, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10 NASB95). God is going to bring the present order of things to an end. Just as He destroyed the earth in the days of Noah by water, so also one day He will destroy the heavens and the earth with fire.

While we weep at the certain fate of those who have rejected Christ on that day, you and I who are in Christ can also look forward with anticipation to that day. Why? Because God has promised that He will create new heavens and a new earth. “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

What will the new heavens and earth be like? Revelation chapters 21 and 22 give us some insights into this:

• It will be a place where God Himself will live among us (21:3)
• There will be no death there (21:4)
• There will be no mourning, crying, or pain (21:4)
• There will be no need of the sun or the moon there because God will illumine it, and Jesus will be its lamp (21:23)
• There will be no night there (21:25)
• There will be no sin there (21:27)
• The river of the water of life will be there (22:1)
• The tree of life will be there (22:2)
• We will see God’s face there (22:4)
• We will reign forever with God there (22:5)

In short, the new heavens and new earth will be a place of great beauty. It will be like Eden once again, where man walked and talked with God in unbroken fellowship.

Don’t you want to go to that land? How can we dwell there forever?  We must have our names written in Jesus’ book of life (Revelation 21:27). Have you come to Jesus, in faith, in the way He has commanded, so that your name will be written there?  And if you have come to Him, let us continue in Him. As Peter wrote, “Therefore, beloved since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…” (2 Peter 3:14). Are you being diligent in your walk with Him? May God help us to continue in faith so that we can see that land He has promised to His children.

—Scott Colvin