What will eternity look like? When will it come to pass? How long have people been looking forward to it? Those are all good questions. Yet, the first question can only be answered in part. The second cannot be answered at all. For the third, we can provide a better answer.
Through Isaiah the prophet, God tells the Israelites he is creating new heavens and a new earth. The people look forward to this new creation of God, which will be an eternal home. Isaiah prophesied between 700 – 740 BCE, or before Jesus was born to Mary.
This means people have been looking forward to eternity for more than 2,700 years. Is this important? If so, why? In my humble opinion, it is important. It helps give us perspective. God has his plan, which has been in place for thousands of years. He is executing his plan in his time. We cannot rush it, nor can we know the timeline of it. We can put it in perspective as we look at God’s prophecy and his work throughout history.
Once we grasp the fact that God has had his plan in place for thousands of years and he is following his plan, we can stop worrying about when Jesus will return. Instead, we can live each day for God’s glory, following his guidance, and be confident his plan will come to fruition. In effect, it helps us do as Jesus told us, “do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). By putting our confidence in God and his plan, our mental, physical, and spiritual lives become healthier.
I pray we all trust in God’s plan. I pray we trust that God is executing his plan in his time. I pray each one of us live each day to glorify God, follow his guidance, and be confident in God’s plan. Trust God’s plan. God is executing his plan. Live to glorify God. Follow God’s guidance.
Isaiah 65:17-18
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating,
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy
and its people as a delight.
Marty Pressey 