‘We are looking forward to a new Heaven and a new earth.’ 2 Peter 3:13 NIV
What about suffering—doesn’t that prove there isn’t a loving God? Adam was given a choice: to obey God or disobey Him. He chose disobedience, and God said, ‘Cursed is the ground [earth] because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.’ (Genesis 3:17 NIV) Note the word ‘painful’. Think how many people are living with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, emphysema, Parkinson’s disease, and another life-changing illnesses. Did God ‘blow it’ when He created humanity? Sadly, many use the issue of suffering as an excuse to reject any thought of God, when its existence is the very reason we should believe in Him.
In the beginning God created perfect humans, and they lived in a perfect world without suffering—it was Heaven on earth. When sin came into the world, death and misery came with it. What’s the ultimate answer? ‘We are looking forward to a new Heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found… at peace with Him.’ (2 Peter 3:13–14 NIV)
Suffering reached its height when Jesus said from the cross, ‘It is finished.’ Those words mean ‘paid in full’. They mean when you accept Jesus as your Saviour, you will go to Heaven when you die, and you will live in a glorious earth made new without sin or suffering. ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)
If you’re not sure whether you’ve accepted Jesus yet, today put your trust in Him. See page 200.
SoulFood: Jer 4–6, Luke 2:1–7, Ps 144:9–15, Pr 14:5–8
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©