STORY OF JESUS 32
The Home of the Saved
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The Day of Christ's coming is a day of destruction only to evil. It is a
day of redemption, not only for God's people, but for the earth.
God created the earth to be man's home. Here Adam dwelt in that garden of
delight which the Creator Himself had beautified. Though sin has marred God's
work, yet the human race has not been abandoned by its Creator; nor His purpose
for the earth set aside.
To this earth angels have come, with the message of redemption, and
its hills and valleys have echoed their songs of rejoicing. Its soil has been
trodden by the feet of the Son of God. And for more than six thousand years, in
its forms of beauty and gifts for sustenance, the earth has borne witness of the
Creator's love.
This same earth, freed from the curse of sin, is to be man's eternal
home. Of the earth the Scripture says, that God "created it not in vain, He
formed it to be inhabited." Isaiah 45:18. And "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be
for ever." Ecclesiastes 3:14.
So in the Sermon on the Mount the Saviour declared, "Blessed are the
meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5.
So the psalmist long before had written, "The meek shall inherit the
earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Psalm 37:11.
With this agree the words of the Scripture, "The righteous shall be
recompensed in the earth." They "shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for
ever." Proverbs 11:31; Psalm 37:29.
The fires of the last day are to destroy "the heavens and the earth,
which are now;" but there shall come forth "new heavens and a new earth." 2
Peter 3:7, 13. The heavens and the earth will be made new.
"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." 1 Corinthians
2:9.
No human language can fully describe the reward of the righteous. It will
be known only to those who behold it. We can not comprehend the glory of the
Paradise of God.
Yet we have glimpses of that land even now; for "God hath revealed them
unto us by His Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:10. Precious to our hearts are the
pictures of that country which the Bible gives.
There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living
waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the
tree are for the service of the nations.
There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving
trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord.
There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of
God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living
streams, God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.
"My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings,
and in quiet resting places." "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,
wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise." Isaiah 32:18; 60:18.
"They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant
vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit;
they shall not plant, and another eat: . . . mine elect shall long enjoy the
work of their hands." Isaiah 65:21, 22.
There, "the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and
the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." "Instead of the thorn shall
come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree."
Isaiah 35:1; 55:13.
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down
with the kid; . . . and a little child shall lead them." "They shall not hurt
nor destroy in all my holy mountain," saith the Lord. Isaiah 11:6, 9.
There will be no more tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning.
"There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, . . . for the former
things are passed away." "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people
that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Revelation 21:4; Isaiah
33:24.
There is the New Jerusalem, the capital of the glorified new earth, "a
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy
God." Her light is "like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone,
clear as crystal." "The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light
of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it."
Isaiah 62:3; Revelation 21:11, 24.
The Lord says, "I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people." "The
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be
His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God." Isaiah 65:19;
Revelation 21:3.
In the earth made new, only righteousness shall dwell. "There shall in no
wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie." Revelation 21:27.
God's holy law will be honored by all beneath the sun. Those who have
proved themselves true to God by keeping His commandments, shall dwell with Him.
"In their mouth was found no guile." "These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
night in His temple." Revelation 14:5; 7:14, 15.
