5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, and faithfulness the belt about His waist.

6 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a young boy will lead them.

7 Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 And the nursing baby will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.

9 They will do no evil nor act corruptly in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.

— Isaiah 11:5-9

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

— Revelation 20:6

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

A look back at the garden of Eden, before the Fall, offers a few clues about the new creation God promises. God created everything good. With the sky, stars, rivers, oceans, plants, trees, fruit, vegetables, and a multiplicity of animals, the created world existed in perfect harmony with unspoiled beauty and purity — all created for God’s good pleasure. The new heaven and new earth will be all of this, yet more. Will animals live there? God promises the wolf will live with the lamb and a child may play with a viper.

Certainly, God’s people will enjoy God as they dwell in their eternal home, growing in knowledge of and love for Him. They will serve God and carry out meaningful work as they reign with Him. They will dwell in perfect community in a place filled with the honor and glory of the nations, and there will be right love and relationships among all people, from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We will worship God passionately and unashamedly, because our eternal home will be perfect, we will praise, sing, bow, applaud, and dance in His presence. Amen!