New Heaven And A New Earth

 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3:13)

          One of the ideas I’ve heard about COVID-19 is that if we would just really lock down, really quarantine for a couple weeks, or months, or years, that when we emerge from our emergency bunkers (AKA homes), pollution will be gone, and everyone will be so delighted and thankful that our society will just naturally become a socialistic utopia. Some of this was fueled by claims about the Venetian canals, and I can understand where the hope comes from, but it came without considering the wildfires out west, or the riots, occupations, arsons, and “peaceful” protests that leave behind garbage that costs millions to clean up. After all, breaking the banks of the hated establishment will help break the backs of the hated establishment.

          It’s a familiar longing – this “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,” and familiar errors. Those who believe in this new world and new society at the end of the pandemic think that somehow, all those who have disagreed with their chosen social structure will realize their error and become compliant Progressives, bowing to their wisdom and superiority. Some believe that the new heaven and new earth will include everyone, that all who have not known about Christ, or who have rejected Christ will be included because they will then understand their error.

          As things are failing to progress toward the utopia, we are hearing that refusal to support the new world order (silence) is violence, the burning down of cities, the destruction of property, and the intimidation and extortion of those who violently refuse to join in by refusing to raise a fist in the air in hatred are all peaceful. It reminds me of a recording, purportedly of Weather Underground members back in the 1960s or 1970s who talked about the likely need to kill at least 25 million Americans in order to usher in their quest to make this nation what they wanted it to be. Adjusting for population, that would be about 40 million.  That’s more than half of the registered Republicans in the US. It’s about the same number of self-identified evangelical Christians in the US. I’m not saying there’s a Progressive conspiracy against Republicans or evangelical Christians. I’m just pointing out that it’s difficult to have a utopia with as much as 40% of the population actively resisting.

          History has shown us that people don’t suddenly become what they were not. Human nature does not change. Whether we are talking about a heaven on earth, or a new heaven and a new earth, there will be those for whom it is hell, who will reject it, and the only choice is to remove them. What all of this means is that if we want others to dwell with us in the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwells righteousness, it is outside of that place that we must convince them to choose it. If we want others to dwell with us in a utopia on earth, it is outside of it that we must convince them. In either case, to include them otherwise will destroy it or them.

       A new heaven and a new earth are promises God has made. They will come about but when they do, righteousness will dwell there. We can either rejoice in it, or walk away. Both choices have a cost.