Read: Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22

Aaliyah rushed outside to see why Grandpa’s dog was barking so loudly. She found Otis jumping up and down, trying to reach a squirrel up in a tree. “I think that squirrel is scolding you, Otis,” she said as the squirrel chattered loudly. She laughed and pulled the dog away.

Looking around for Grandpa, Aaliyah headed for the toolshed and saw her cat hiding in the grass, staring at some birds pecking at seeds on the ground. The cat was getting ready to pounce. “Get away from those birds, Bella!” Aaliyah cried.

Hearing Aaliyah’s voice, Grandpa came out of the shed with two rakes. “How about helping me clean up the garden?” he asked. Aaliyah took a rake and followed Grandpa as he took long-legged strides across the yard. He paused beneath a tree and pointed at some fur and small bones lying on the ground. “Look here,” he said. “I think there’s been an owl in this tree recently. The fur and bones are probably from some small animal he had for dinner.”

Aaliyah frowned. “Some animals are really mean to each other, aren’t they?”

Grandpa nodded. “Ever since sin came into the world, animals have suffered right along with people. All of creation suffers. Because of sin, we have illness, hunger, death, thorns, thistles, and weeds.”

“You mean the whole world has problems because of sin?” Aaliyah asked. “Not just people?”

“That’s right. But even though sin has affected the whole world, God still rules over it and is working to change it.”

Grandpa and Aaliyah got to work, carefully raking dead sticks and leaves from the flower bed. Soon they saw tiny green shoots peeking above the ground. “Look, Grandpa,” said Aaliyah. “New life!”

Grandpa nodded. “It reminds me that Jesus conquered sin and death when He died and rose again and that He’s making a brand-new world. When He returns, it’s going to be more wonderful than we can imagine. There won’t be any thorns or weeds. Animals won’t be afraid of one another or harm people. And all suffering will end.” He grinned at Aaliyah. “Best of all, Christians will live with Jesus forever in a perfect place free of sin and death.”

–Carolyn E. Yost

How about you? Do you see the effect sin has had on all of creation? It may make you feel sad, but when you see flowers blooming or new plants springing up, thank God that a day is coming when He will take away all the effects of sin. Animals will get along together—and people will too! If you trust in Jesus, you can look forward to being with Him in a brand-new world forever. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today's Key Verse: But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13 (NLT)

Today's Key Thought: God will make a new world