What does it mean that God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth?

What does it mean that God is going to create a new heaven and a new earth?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God saw at all he had made and it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Everything was perfect without a blemish anywhere! Think of a park with beautiful trees, manicured lawns and amazing flowers in full bloom with not a single weed to be found. It was truly a Paradise. Then unfortunately sin came into the world through Adam’s disobedience and God’s perfect creation became corrupted, so much so that God destroyed the earth with the flood, and only Noah, his family and the animals were saved to make a fresh start.

But, sin was still in the world. God gave his people laws and commandments but no one could, or was willing to, keep all the commandments or be obedient to all laws. People continued to sin and disobey God. But God had a plan. He sent his only son, Jesus, to be a sacrifice for all the sins of the world; a Savior to fulfill God’s promise of salvation and eternal life for all who would trust in him. In the final book of the Bible, the apostle John describes a vision in which he hears Jesus say, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5)

In a letter written by one of Jesus’ closest disciples we read: “but in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and the new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13) Six hundred years earlier, the prophet, Isaiah recorded these words that God had spoken to him: “for behold, I create a new heaven and new earth and the former shall not be remembered, or come to mind.”

A new heaven and a new earth are more than just a promise. The Apostle John actually saw what God has prepared for all those who love him and have placed their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. God gave John a glimpse into the future as recorded in Revelation 21:1 “ then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth has passed away.” The new earth will be a Paradise beyond human comprehension. In 1Corinthians 2:9 we read, “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no mind has conceived are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

So, have you trusted your life to Jesus so that you can experience this promised eternal new earth paradise? If not, why not? Remember, this new creation is only the eternal dwelling place for those who are God’s children in Christ.