Being a time critter has its draw-backs

Isaiah 65:17

Being a time critter has its draw-backs the prophet Isaiah lived in the time line of 740-698 B.C. in Jerusalem and he saw future things that John the apostle would also see and record.  It is believed the Emperor Domitian who ruled in A.D. 81-96 exiled John to Patmos, and John wrote the Revelation in 90 A.D.  There is about 450 years of history taking place from the last of the prophet’s writing to the New Testament writing and from 60-90 years before God spoke and revealed to John this vision of what was going to take place in the future.  Now here is the problem for us time critters, short memories, short retention, busy with life’s many challenges, and waiting is not a strong suit for most of us.

Isaiah gets this word from God “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17) Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, left the Jewish people with this central teaching; “Honor God and wait for His righteousness” and this message is for us.  And this is what God revealed to John in a vision: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”  (Revelation 21:1-7 ESV) 

The apostle Peter has these wise words from the Holy Spirit for us: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.  (2 Peter 3:8-14 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice