Have you ever made a mental attempt at imagining what a room in your home would look like if it was painted a different color? Or what brand-new fixtures might add to the functionality or the aesthetics of your bedroom or kitchen? Or perhaps you have dreamed of moving to another home, more spacious, more accommodating. Enough bedrooms and bathrooms to better house a growing family.
In today’s Sunday Spice we are going to take a look at this idea of imagining what the future looks like and we are going to use some Bible prophecies that speak to those imminent events.
We will discover in these few moments together that the future the Bible speaks of is truly epic.
At a younger age, I spent time imagining what it would be like to be an interior designer and decorator. In college, I even subscribed to a monthly magazine, the Architectural Digest. This kept me exposed to the intricacies of design and décor. I read the articles and took note of the pictures which portrayed many patterns, schemes, and designs. I pondered various styles and evaluated savvy trends of the era. I even considered going to school to learn interior design. To this day I can get excited about blueprints and schematics, about building projects, construction strategies, and remodeling ideas.
I did not end up taking that particular career path, obviously. Instead, I used those creative juices to make music and produce recording projects. This entailed also what I dreamed an album cover or website graphic should look like. Such opportunities allowed me to articulate the ideas of distinctive design in both musical and illustrative expressions. I took these ideas into the future and have enjoyed the opportunity to record over 350 songs on over 20 recording projects. Whew!
But no matter what our various backgrounds are, no matter the career or vocation, there is always the idea of creating a future or adapting to new developments and changes that help us escort the future into existence, or another way to put it, is to successfully escort ourselves into the future that awaits us. Whether it’s a more effective way to record and market a song, or a faster and more comfortable way to travel, a more convenient and cheaper way to get an education or a better way to dig a hole. We can always be sure that things are changing, and the future holds much to wonder about in this present moment. What exactly can we expect?
Listen to the future as it is painted by Isaiah 65:17-25
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.
These verses ooze with an overflow of futuristic crescendos, starting with a new heaven and a new earth. Imagine that! If you were having trouble imagining a new color for your bedroom, then try to imagine living on a new earth. These verses go on to help us imagine things like people living to ripe old ages; where your descendants, and even your descendants’ descendants, are blessed; where God says he will answer you before you call; and where the interaction of the wolf and the lamb will represent the removal of violence from the earth. Wow, what a future!
This IS the future of those who belong to the Lord Jesus. And such a future is visited again in the most prophetic book of the New Testament.
Revelation 21:1-5 reads.
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. 2 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 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. 4 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.” 5 And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
I mention all these verses because I want to encourage you to imagine what the Bible says about the future. And I want to encourage you to give yourself to the One who will be the Omnipotent King of this amazing future scenario.
This reminds me of the old hymn: (Do you know it?)
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!
Friends, He WILL be seated on the throne as the King of kings and Lord of lords. I don’t know about you but this puts my anticipation of the future at the highest level.
Jesus Himself was the fulfillment of 61 Old Testament futuristic prophecies, which existed before His arrival. This places these prophetic anticipations of Isaiah and Revelation about a new heaven and a new earth in very good company.
I’m Tammy Reneé, and this is Sunday Spice. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed are the people who take refuge in Him!
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