God's Great Tomorrow

God's Great Tomorrow

A little girl, walking hand in hand with her father, looked up at the brilliant, shining stars in the evening sky. With an enraptured sigh she said, "Heaven must be beautiful!"

When her father asked why she thought so, she said, "'Cause the light coming through the cracks in the floor is so pretty."

Heaven, the place where God dwells, must be beautiful; for even this world of ours, now scarred by sin, is still a very beautiful place, revealing the touch of the Master Artist. When it was created, the Creator God, looking on His perfect work, saw with satisfaction that it was very good. (Genesis 1:31.)

But as time went on, mankind and the earth alike showed the results of the deadly infection of sin. Century by century as man became more degraded, the earth groaned under the increasing weight of wickedness. This state of degradation and decline has continued until now our world totters on the brink of destruction. Looking at the earth's decline, the prophet declared: "The earth shall wax old like a garment." Isaiah 51:6.

Preceding lessons have outlined the end of our civilization and the gathering of God's children out of the final chaos into the mansions of our Father's house. In our last lesson we discovered that after a thousand years Jesus and all the saints of God will come back to this earth, which then will be cleansed by fire.

1. GOD'S PURPOSES NEVER FAIL

The Lord never allows His purposes to fail. His plans may be hindered, even delayed for a time; but in the end He will work out all things according to His great purpose. His perfect creation is to be restored to its original beauty.

"GOD himself that FORMED THE EARTH and made it; . . . he created it not in vain, he formed it TO BE INHABITED."—Isaiah 45:18.

Sometimes men question God and ask "Why?" about life's mystifying problems. We must understand that God is never taken off guard by His enemies. He knows the end from the beginning and, knowing all things, He determines to restore all that sin has taken from the human family. He promises to recreate our world into a sinless new world. All this harmonizes with the assurance:

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; . . . for the former things are passed away. . . . Behold, I make all things new."—Revelation 21:1, 4, 5.

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."—2 Peter 3:13.

When this new earth begins, sin will have been completely destroyed, never to exist again. God promises that the affliction of sin will never return:

"He [God] will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time."—Nahum 1:9.

Just how wonderful this new life in God's great tomorrow will really be, we cannot now comprehend.

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."—1 Corinthians 2:9.

2. WHAT WILL WE BE LIKE THEN? (Part 1 of 2)

To answer this question, the Word of God directs our attention to the Lord Jesus after His resurrection. In the upper room, He said to His disciples:

"BEHOLD MY HANDS AND MY FEET, THAT IT IS I MYSELF: HANDLE ME, AND SEE; FOR A SPIRIT HATH NOT FLESH AND BONES, AS YE SEE ME HAVE. . . . And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And HE TOOK IT, AND DID EAT BEFORE THEM."—Luke 24:39, 41-43.

"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."—John 20:27.

Christ's disciples saw a real, physical person in their resurrected Lord. They touched Him. He had a real body. He ate food with them.

Because the resurrected Christ conquered death, He will raise the righteous dead at His second coming. Job was confident of the resurrection of the redeemed. He declared:

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, YET IN MY FLESH SHALL I SEE GOD: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me."—Job 19:25-27.

And Isaiah the prophet declares:

"THY DEAD MEN SHALL LIVE, together with my dead body shall they arise."—Isaiah 26:19.

Paul too speaks of the resurrection of our bodies:

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, WAITING FOR the adoption, to wit, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY."—Romans 8:22, 23.

When Jesus comes, our bodies will be redeemed from the grave, restored to the image of God as in the beginning. They will be like Jesus' resurrected body.

2. WHAT WILL WE BE LIKE THEN? (Part 2 of 2)

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see him as he is."—1 John 3:2.

Paul says that our bodies will be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52. He says that in this life we have "corruptible," "mortal" bodies, diseased, dying, and tainted with sin. Then he describes our resurrected bodies, delivered from sin forever. Our bodies will be just as real as now, but they will be changed—"incorruptible," "immortal," eternally free from sin, sickness, suffering, deformity, and death. (Verses 53, 54.)

Before Christ comes a second time to take us to His Father's house in heaven above, we must allow Him to conquer sin in our lives.

After Jesus comes, the affliction of sin will never again disturb us. The former things will all be past. The old sinful nature will be gone. Envy, jealousy, fear, hate, and every evil trait will have vanished forever, and we shall stand eternally delivered from our sinful nature. Love, joy, peace, and all that is good will be forever ours. Because in this life we have chosen to accept these lovely graces of Christ as our own, the sudden transformation at Jesus' appearing will seal our characters.

Death will then have no more hold on God's redeemed children, for our changed bodies will be immortal, like Christ's glorified body.

"For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: WHO SHALL CHANGE OUR VILE BODY, that it may be fashioned LIKE UNTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."—Philippians 3:20, 21.

Would you like to awaken tomorrow morning with every defect gone—no pain, no sickness, no deformities, love possessing you completely—and know that you would never revert to the old nature and the old ways? That is exactly what Christ will do for all who are ready to be taken to heaven with Him.

3. WILL WE KNOW OUR FRIENDS?

In God's tomorrow will we know our friends and loved ones?

Jesus' disciples recognized Him in His heavenly body by His familiar bodily features. (Luke 24:36-43.) Mary recognized Him at the tomb because of the familiar sound of His voice when He called her name. (John 20:14-16.) He was recognized by the two disciples of Emmaus as they saw the way Jesus blessed the food. (Luke 24:13-35.)

Since "we shall be like Him," the redeemed are certain to know one another by their familiar bodily features, by the tone of their voices, and by the individual traits of personality which each one will retain. True, the marks of sin will be removed; nevertheless, we shall know and understand one another better there than we ever have in this present world.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but THEN SHALL I KNOW EVEN AS ALSO I AM KNOWN."—1 Corinthians 13:12.

What a blessed hope for the Christian! Eternal life in Christ! Life with old friends from this earth! Yes, we shall know as we are known. No wonder Paul exults:

"Looking for that blessed hope."—Titus 2:13.

Think! Perfect happiness in companionship with Jesus, the angels, and our friends who will be with us for eternity.

4. WILL THE NEW EARTH BE A REAL PLACE? (Part 1 of 3)

In our last lesson we discovered that after spending a thousand years in heaven, the saved will return to this earth in the New Jerusalem. The entire world will be purified by fire. God will live with the redeemed, who with real bodies will possess a re-created new earth.

"And they shall BUILD HOUSES, and inhabit them; and THEY SHALL PLANT VINEYARDS, and EAT THE FRUIT of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and MINE ELECT SHALL LONG ENJOY THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS."—Isaiah 65:21, 22.

This scripture makes our home in the new earth a very real place. We will build houses and live in them forever, no rent to pay, no mortgages to worry about! We will be a happy people, living in perfect security. We will never need to worry over the fears that plague us in this life.

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."—Isaiah 11:9.

A perfect knowledge of God will fill our hearts. All men will worship Him in complete unity of faith and spirit, for we will see Jesus face to face.

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."—Jeremiah 31:34.

Every Sabbath day we will honor our Creator and Redeemer.

"For as THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and FROM ONE SABBATH TO ANOTHER, SHALL ALL FLESH COME TO WORSHIP BEFORE ME, SAITH THE LORD."—Isaiah 66:22, 23.

4. WILL THE NEW EARTH BE A REAL PLACE? (Part 2 of 3)

Together we will meet around the throne of God to worship Him who loved us so much that He "gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

The New Jerusalem, capital of the new earth, was built by the Master Architect of the universe for the happiness of His children.

"For he [Abraham] looked for a CITY which hath foundations, whose BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD."—Hebrews 11:10.

The twenty-first chapter of Revelation describes this magnificent city of the future world. The next chapter begins:

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."—Revelation 22:1, 2.

We are amazed at the great cities of this world with their skyscrapers, subways, and dazzling lights. But our amazing world will pale into insignificance when compared with the city of God and the world of tomorrow.

Look out on the landscape about you. Despite the damaging scars caused by the curse of sin, there is still a beauty that convinces one of the power of God. But those scars will all be gone in the new earth.

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly."—Isaiah 35:1, 2.

"There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home."—The Great Controversy, p. 675.

You have seen the well-known painting of a child leading a lion, and following them a calf, a wolf, and a lamb. This lovely picture, "A Little Child Shall Lead Them," was inspired by this divine promise:

4. WILL THE NEW EARTH BE A REAL PLACE? (Part 3 of 3)

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox."—Isaiah 11:6, 7.

Today we cage these fierce beasts; but in the new earth, when every trace of sin is removed, they will become our pets.

"There every power will be developed, every capability increased. The grandest enterprises will be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations will be reached, the highest ambitions realized. And still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of body and mind and soul.

"All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's children. With unutterable delight we shall enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. We shall share the treasures gained through ages upon ages spent in contemplation of God's handiwork. And the years of eternity, as they roll, will continue to bring more glorious revelations. 'Exceeding abundant above all that we ask or think' will be, forever and forever, the impartation of the gifts of God."—Education, p. 307.

5. HOW TO BE THERE (Part 1 of 2)

Someone once asked Mark Twain, "Who do you suppose will get to heaven?" He thought a while, then answered: "I suppose the folks will get to heaven who will feel at home when they arrive there."

How much at home would the gambler be with no opportunity to gamble? How would the self-centered person feel in a city where unselfish love is the basis of everyone's actions? Our natures must be changed here if we are to be at home in heaven and in the earth made new. Both heaven and the new earth will be the home of purified characters. Others would not feel comfortable there. Jesus said:

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."—Matthew 5:8.

Peter, in speaking of the new earth, said:

"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for suoh things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."—2 Peter 3:14.

We know that Jesus is coming again soon. With that knowledge, how important it is for us to prepare for citizenship in God's new earth. John says of those who are preparing for Christ's coming:

"Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."—1 John 3:3.

In the very next verse he carries the thought to completion by advising us that sin, which makes us impure, is the transgression of the law of God. John tells us that only Jesus can take away our sins and make us pure and fit for God's kingdom.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW. And ye know that HE [Jesus] WAS MANIFESTED TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."—1 John 3:4-6.

Only those who live the Jesus-life can be freed from sin.

"And THERE SHALL IN NO WISE ENTER INTO IT ANY THING THAT DEFILETH, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."—Revelation 21:27.

Jesus counseled the rich man who was seeking eternal life,

"If thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS."—Matthew 19:17.

5. HOW TO BE THERE (Part 2 of 2)

Jesus Christ is our password into His soon-coming kingdom. It is Jesus who delivers us FROM sin but not IN sin. We must accept Him and through His power in us be separated from the impure, the unholy, the defiling—all disobedience to the commandments. Obedience is the test of discipleship.

A Christian lay dying, surrounded by his family. As he felt life slipping away from him, he called his children one by one and drew them down beside him. To each he whispered, "Good night, I'll see you in the morning." His "Good night" was a farewell of faith. But when he beckoned the "black sheep" of the family to his side, the old saint tearfully said, "Good-bye."

The boy drew back and cried, "O Dad, why did you say 'Good night' to the others, but 'Good-bye' to me?"

The old man breathed slowly, "Son, I said 'Good-bye' to you because you're not making any plans to meet me in eternity."

The boy threw himself into his father's arms, sobbing: "Dad, O Dad, don't say 'Good-bye' to me; say 'Good night'!"

The rosiest pictures we can paint of God's tomorrow can never capture its beautiful reality. Will you promise your blessed Saviour right now, "Through Your grace, I'm going to be there to say 'Good morning' to You and those I love"?

Dear Father in heaven, I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me. [illegible] Thee for the promises of this Bible lesson [illegible] heaven so beautiful and so real. Please s[illegible]nd [illegible] Holy Spirit into my heart to make me re[illegible] home in the new earth. In Jesus' nam[illegible] Amen.