Moment of Meditation: Heaven and Earth Pass Away (Matthew 24:35)

''Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away (Matthew 24:35).''

The 2010 book ''Heaven Is for Real'' got everyone buzzing about the "other side" once again. Everything this four-year-old boy saw in his visit to Heaven. The question often posed to me about this book is, "Is it true?" My beginning answer is "Yes and no."

I find it hard to believe that a child would make up a vision like this. According to his father, there were some things that he would not have known from before his birth. And these find themselves as prominent themes in the book.

However, I have to say that this is not the Heaven we will receive when Jesus comes back. The problem with Colton's vision of the current Heaven is the fact that the angels have weapons. They have weapons because Satan is still allowed in Heaven. This comes from the book of Job. Satan comes into God's presence to seek permission to torment Job (1:6-12; 2:1-7). The current Heaven is fallen because of Satan's rebellion against God.

So Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away." Everything that God created "very good" in the six days of creation will pass away and be re-created. The only thing that will not be destroyed after Christ's return is Hell. It was not part of the original creation. It was created for the devil and his angels because of their rebellion (Matthew 25:41). The lake of fire will continue to exist into eternity, but there will be a new Heaven and a new earth, as Isaiah prophesied (65:17-25; 66:22-24). This new Heaven and new earth will be "very good" as they were in the beginning. But this time there will be no rebellion. Only glory in God's presence. Amen.