Isaiah 65:17-19 – Be Glad And Rejoice
The new heavens and the new earth begin in new hearts. Such a change, a worldwide change, a worldwide transformation begins with, and is made up of, many, many, many changed hearts. It’s comprised of many beyond counting who are there at the great throne of God, a great multitude that no man can number, who have new life, who once were dead in trespasses and sins. There they are dwelling in the new heavens and new earth. We tend to think of new heavens and new earth as something off in the future somewhere, but we’re still in the same old heavens and earth. Well, certainly in Isaiah’s day, people there, for the most part, would have to say so. In Isaiah’s day, and throughout all the Old Testament, except on the individual level, this indeed was a day to come. On the individual level, as the Spirit would work on people and as He would work through them, why, it would be a new heaven and earth for them. They would be made new creations. But the new heavens and new earth in every other respect are off to the future for them. But what about people in Jesus’ day? What about people in our day? The new heavens and new earth have appeared. They have begun, they were started out or inaugurated with the coming of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2). We’re already in the last days, and we have been since Jesus finished his work. The new heavens and new earth wait for the consummation and final existence at the return of Jesus Christ. We continue to experience some things of a fallen world. In fact, there are some things we experience of it that unbelievers do not. We experience its fallenness in a sharper way. We see in Scripture that we have wonderful things already, but not their completion yet. And so it is with the new heavens and new earth, we wait for that which will be far, far better. John describes the completed new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21.
Verses 18 and 19 give us a call to be glad and to rejoice. There is much to bring joy in this thinking of the new heavens and earth. We once were dead in our trespasses and sins. We are now alive! It’s abundant cause for everlasting joy. Where does this joy come from? From the One Who creates the joy. Why does He create this? It’s for His glory’s sake. It’s for His people’s sake — His people whom He loves. What’s the centre of this joy? It’s centred at Jerusalem. This is referring to the Church, the bride of Christ. That’s what the new Jerusalem is. It is in the Church that this joy is brought about!
Question
- Who is making all things new?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks for the glorious final new heavens and earth that awaits.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.