READ: ROMANS 8:18-39; REVELATION 21:1-5

Think of your favorite T-shirt. How long have you had it? How much have you worn it? Is it the same now as it was on the day it was first made? Probably not. Why? Because of something scientists call entropy.

Entropy is something we’re all familiar with, even if not by that name. It’s one of the laws of physics that states how, over time, order gives way to disorder. When it comes to T-shirts, that means the fabric wears down and the threads can’t hold tension as well, until one day you realize your favorite T-shirt is stretched out and full of holes. And for living things, like the human body, it means that we age, and our bones, muscles, and organs gradually become weaker and more susceptible to disease until one day, the body can no longer function properly…and dies.

Entropy is everywhere—it’s even present in the fabric of the universe itself. Scientists tell us that in a number of years—a number so huge it’s impossible to fathom—entropy will cause the universe to die too. How that will happen exactly is a topic of debate, but one day, scientists say, everything at the subatomic level will break down, and the universe will be no more.

Now, there are lots of reasons why Christians need to be discerning when it comes to what scientists say about the universe, because not all scientists view it as God’s creation or believe what God says about it. And God has said something amazing about the universe.

In the Bible, Jesus says that when He returns, He will make all things new. He won’t just give us new, immortal bodies and make a new earth free from sin and death—He will make the heavens new too. The fabric of the universe will no longer be defined by a tendency toward disorder and decay. Instead, all of creation—even the laws of physics—will be made new and eternal. So, while scientists debate how the universe might end, we can take comfort knowing it won’t. Jesus promises to intervene and put an end to entropy for all eternity. • Courtney Lasater

• Have you heard things about humanity, the world, or the universe that make you feel hopeless? When we were hopelessly lost in our sin, Jesus intervened on our behalf at the cross (John 3:16-17), and He promises to intervene again one day when He returns to make everything new—all because He loves us. Consider taking a moment to pray, bringing Him any messages of hopelessness or despair you’ve heard. You can always ask Him to remind you of the hope and peace of His promises.

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5 (NLT)