"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. . . 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." (Isaiah 65:17,19a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Isaiah saw the vision God placed before him. Nearly 700 years before Christ came, God lifted his eyes to the Messiah in whom he could delight. It was a time not unlike our time. The people around Isaiah rejected God. There were plenty of struggles in life and worries of the world to catch Isaiah's attention. People were so bad that Isaiah had to wonder how long it would be before God had enough. 

Isaiah knew God would punish the people all the while keeping His small group faithful to Him. To these believers God spoke words to lift them past the present struggles to the delight of the coming new heaven and new earth. "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth." 

This is the work to be accomplished at the end of all time. It is a remarkable place, the new heavens and new earth. There the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. People who carry with them the horrors of death and the pain of sickness, all the shameful things we have done and encouraged. All the ways we've been sinned against or led others to sin. Those things won't come to our minds again. And there the sound of weeping and distress will be no more. There won't be stillbirths or babies who die after a short time in life. People won't pass away suddenly. Accidents won't end lives, because there will be no more death. All the celebrating of life we have done by the side of a departed relative will be completed as we realize the delights of the new creation. 

These are promises that we take on faith now but are guaranteed for us by the death of Jesus and His resurrection from the grave. One day we will see it all clearly on the holy mountain of the Lord. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O Sweet and blessed country, The home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country
That faithful hearts expect! In mercy, Jesus, bring us To that eternal rest With You and God the Father And Spirit, ever blest. ("Jerusalem the Golden" LSB 672, st.4)

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Duane Bamsch