What is the desire of every Christian? It is to live with God and Christ in eternity. That is our ultimate goal. To obtain that goal we are willing to become completely obedient and submissive to God’s “will” and to live our lives as Christ instructed. Ask most Christians to describe eternity and what will it be like living there. The majority may have trouble describing it. Yet, Americans spend millions of dollars trying to find out what their lives will be like in ten years. How important is it for you to know what “forever” is going to be like? Scripture has made it very clear that if we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we will spend eternity with the Trinity.

When we read in chapter 21 and 22 of Revelation God describes for us what eternity will be like. The apostle John, the author of Revelation, tells us a lot about a new heaven and a new earth. Therefore, if eternity is of any interest we can learn by reading two chapters in the Bible.

Our heaven, earth and seas will be gone. The apostle Peter writes that our present earth will be destroyed by fire. (II Peter 3:7) This will occur after the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. The curse that has been on our earth and the evil that exists will be gone. Its atmosphere and surroundings are so different that it will allow our imperishable bodies to exist forever. Our diets will be different as we eat from the Tree of Life. Some believe it is the same type of Tree Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat.

There will be no sun, no Satan, no sin or death, tears and sickness. Mankind will have made a complete cycle. We believe our new earth will be similar to what God had intended in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve prior to their sin. Yet, the new earth has been described as being far more beautiful and more perfect.

We know that God walked among Adam and Eve in the Garden and will walk among us on the new earth as He describes in Leviticus 26:11 & 12. We will be able to live with no stress or pain and live a life of peace and complete joy.

John writes that He was allowed to view the new earth. It was decorated with pure gold as clear as glass and fine jewelry. It sparkled and its brilliance came from the radiance of God. There will be twelve gates surrounded by walls that are 200 feet thick. Each gate will be a huge pearl. The earth will be a perfect cube and was measured between 1400 and 1500 miles squared. There will be enough room for billions of people. It has no impurities. There will no longer be a need for a sun or a moon. Our light will come from God since sin cannot occur in the presence of God. There will be no need for darkness or a day and night to keep time.

Water will be provided from the Water of Life River. Beside the river will be twelve different types of trees each bearing different fruit. It is highly assumed everyone will be vegetarians. I can’t imagine anything being killed on the new earth in God’s presence. Should you cut yourself; the leaves from the trees will heal your wound. Therefore, we may assume that our bodies will be more than just spirits or ghost-like.

Our relationship to God in eternity means there will probably be duties that we will be required to perform. I don’t believe God would expect us to sit around all day drinking iced tea. We may have to pick fruit and pump water out of the Water of Life River. If we have bodies that require food and water that means there will be plenty of tasks to be performed. I am sure that everyone will have some requirements, even attorneys. God will find something else for them to do

Our character and our behavior shall be the same as Christ. Can you imagine what life would be like if we all had a servant’s heart and had an unconditional love for each other? Then think of being with a God who wants to meet our every need and every desire. He wants to bless us, His children, beyond anything we could ever imagine. If He can create a universe and be everywhere in it, don’t we believe He can create a utopia that would be indescribable?

We leave you with one question. Is living a disciplined life, saved, totally surrendered and committed to Christ for how many years you are alive worth forever and ever?