What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11-13.
The feet of the wicked will never desecrate the earth made new. Fire will come down from God out of heaven and devour them—burn them up root and branch. Satan is the root, and his children are the branches.
The same fire from God that consumed the wicked purified the whole earth. The broken, ragged mountains melted with fervent heat, the atmosphere also, and all the stubble was consumed. Then our inheritance opened before us, glorious and beautiful, and we inherited the whole earth made new.
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin.
The sea divides friends. It is a barrier between us and those whom we love. Our associations are broken up by the broad, fathomless ocean. In the new earth there will be no more sea, and there shall pass there “no galley with oars.” In the past many who have loved and served God have been bound by chains to their seats in galleys, compelled to serve the purpose of cruel, hardhearted men. The Lord has looked upon their suffering in sympathy and compassion. Thank God, in the earth made new there will be no fierce torrents, no engulfing ocean, no restless, murmuring waves.
Let all that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the crystal river and green fields, the waving trees and the living fountains, the shining city and the white-robed singers, of our heavenly home—that world of beauty which no artist can picture, no mortal tongue describe. “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.”
Maranatha p. 352
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Prayer Requests
—–Today Eileen will find out the results of the MRI. Please pray that the doctor will know what to do and that it will not be serious. Rose
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Dear Friends,
Four year old Dorothy was sitting on the floor playing with her dolls, while her mother was entertaining a visitor. As the woman was talking with Dorothy’s mother, she was watching the little girl play. Without thinking, the woman said, “Not very p-r-e-t-t-y is she.”
Dorothy looked up from her play and responded, “No, but I’m s-m-a-r-t.” Embarrassed, the woman left. It was true. Dorothy was not pretty, but she was a sweet, obedient, intelligent child. That was worth far more to her mother than having a child with good looks.
How easy it is for us to judge a person by how they look. We somehow think that if a person is handsome or beautiful, their character is beautiful too. That does not happen very often.
The prophet Samuel had this lesson to learn. God told him to go to Bethlehem and anoint a man to take King Saul’s place. He even told him that it would be one of Jesse’s sons. “And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:1-7
Let us determine not to judge someone by their outward appearance. Let us look beyond the exterior and look upon the true person within. Let us value a person by what we find in their heart. Let us make sure that when others see us, they see the character of our Loving Creator and Redeemer that they may be drawn to Him.
Rose