Heaven Can Begin Here! Part 5

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:21, 22).

Precious Lord, how wonderful are Your thoughts toward Your children. How gracious are Your plans for Your people. Please teach us to order our steps in accordance with Your will, so that we might live to enjoy the work of our hands here on earth, and then inherit eternal life when You return! Thank You Father, in the blessed Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

As I mentioned earlier in this series, this chapter has a dual interpretation; what could have been, had Israel of old obeyed God’s word and remained in the covenant He had established with them; at the same time, some verses speak of what life will be like in the earth made new!

When I hear preachers speak about us building houses in the earth made new. I think about Christ’s promise, that He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:1-3)! But even if it means that we will also be doing some building “over yonder,” it will all bring joy, because there is no disappointment in heaven, or in the earth made new!

However, while we are living here on earth, there will be, and have been, times when people have simply decided that they are not going to respect other people’s property, and have not only occupied another person’s property, but also destroyed it. I have experienced this. I have known of others who have also experienced it, accompanied by death threats!

Planting and eating what we sow, can also be a problem. Though there are families, who during the time of harvest have opened their gates and made the fruit of their land available to all, there have been people who would rather break in and steal, what has been freely offered.

Such situations occur when laws that have been created to protect us, are taken lightly, and ignored by the lawless. Thank God that, in God’s tomorrow, lawlessness will not exist!

Another point of interest in our text for today, is that the prophet compares the life span of God’s people with the lifespan of a tree.

In regards to life here on earth, planting and reaping times vary. Some trees blossom within a relatively short period of time. This gives those who plant them, the hope that they will be around long enough to enjoy the work of their hands. Others plant certain trees with the understanding that their children, and grandchildren will be the ones who will reap the benefits, because of the many years it may take before they will reap a harvest, or enjoy the shade, of the tree.

But in the earth made new, no matter how long it takes for a tree to give its fruit, or be big enough to provide shade, time will not be a problem; because the lifespan of God’s people will be eternal! Amen, and Amen!