By Not Known
The Bible gives enticing picture of what things will be like at the end. Paul puts it this
way: … God will be all in all (1 Cor 15:28).
This does not mean that creation and its people will lose their identity. The heavens,
the earth and its people will still ‘be’, but will have a renewed ‘shape’.
Isaiah is one of many who draws a vivid word picture of what this shape will be. There
will be new heavens, a new earth and a new Jerusalem which will satisfy the deepest
desires (65: 17-18; 66: 10-13). This is further expanded as a place of no weeping and
where there is longevity along with domestic, agricultural and creational bliss (65: 19b-
25). It is also a state in which the Lord answers prayers before his people say ‘Amen’
(65:24).
Isaiah’s language is echoed in the last two chapter of the Bible where the new heavens,
earth and Jerusalem are used to paint a picture of eternal life (Rev 21-22). Both Isaiah
and Revelation draw on the words of Genesis 1 and 2 – for example, see the word
‘create’ in Is 65:17. God’s new creation is the restoration of the first creation, but it
will be so good that the things we now see will disappear from memory (Is 65: 17b).
This then is the end of the end; that God is all in all in his new creation.
Paul tells us the path that leads to this end of the end (1 Cor 15: 20-28). It is through
Jesus. His resurrection was the first fruits and he will gather those who belong to him
when he comes. Then, when the last enemy is defeated in the death of death, he will
return the kingdom to his Father that God may be all in all.
This is the hope on which to stake our hearts and our lives. Our path to it is by putting
our faith in Jesus and sticking with him (1 Cor 15: 1-2). We stick with him by standing
firm and always giving ourselves to the Lord’s work, confident that this is no vain
sacrifice (1 Cor 15:58).
This hope is something to rejoice in (Is 66: 10&14). It is something to tell others about so
that people from the distant islands can also share in it (Is 66: 19-20). It is also a hope to
pray for: Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down (Is 64: 1) and Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus (Rev 20:20)
So let us joyfully celebrate the resurrection of Jesus today knowing that it is the
beginning of the end. Let us embrace and hold to the gospel of the death and
resurrection of Jesus ourselves. Let us tell others about it so we may bless them and
glorify God in our telling and their believing. And let us pray for the Lord’s return in
order that this present sin-stained world will slip from memory as God is all in all.