“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1 KJV); “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (v. 4 KJV).
I was on an airplane recently returning from a ministry trip with my husband. I don’t normally look out the window that much on an airplane, but it was cloudy and dreary as we boarded the plane on this particular day. It was one of those days that just makes you want to hibernate inside somewhere. Or better yet, stay in bed, pull the covers up over your eyes, and peek out every now and then. Not a great day to be traveling.
However, I have flown enough to expect that soon after takeoff we would rise above the dreariness to a beautiful sky. I was not disappointed. Once we broke through the clouds, it was a breathtaking sight to behold.The clouds looked as if someone could just step out on them and bounce around. They looked like big balls of cotton. It was as if I could view layers of God’s wonderful creation of heaven and earth. Peer- ing down through the sun-drenched clouds, I could see the land, and then the ocean beneath us. It was awe-inspiring to say the least. I wondered how anyone could deny the reality of a power greater than ourselves—a God who spoke all creation into existence.
I was reminded of John’s vision from the Book of Revelation—a new heaven and a new earth where nothing distresses or brings any sort of pain! Nobody will grow old, and minds won’t be taken away by disease.We won’t have to fear the future,and there will be no wondering if we we’ll suffer the same sicknesses that our parents faced.We won’t hold the hands of friends or loved ones as they face sadness and grief, and we won’t have the dread of tragedies coming to our families, be- cause all the former things will be passed away.We will have no sorrow to bring tears to our eyes.We will have no sickness to cause pain and suffering.We will be in a place where everyone will be whole again. God himself will wipe our tears away. Can you imagine a place of such perfection?
Dare we believe it? God’s Word declares it, and it is so. For the Bible tells us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Luke 21:33).What is writ- ten in His Word is true. Praise God!
