You start a new task at work, but no one tells you what the end goal is…
You’re playing a new family game, but no one knows how it ends…
You find yourself driving, but no idea of where you are going…
You are asked to serve at church, but with no concept of the overall purpose…
The frustration one might feel in the absence of knowing where you are going, what the final purpose is, what’s the point, is easy to imagine. Many of us have been there at one time or another—tasked with some job or responsibility, without insight into the reasoning behind it. This can be a disorienting situation. We are, by definition, “telos” people. “Telos” is the Greek word for “purpose, end, goal, fulfillment.” We are, by creation, people who yearn for, who need an end, a purpose, a goal.
I believe we are created that way because God clearly has an end in mind, and He wants it to be in our minds as well. And what He plans is… “the new heavens and the new earth” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 66:22; Isaiah 65:17).
The new heavens and new earth is the culmination of the biblical story—it is the “telos,” the end and purpose of all creation. Creation begins in Genesis 1, ends with the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21, and scattered in between are references to God’s plan. This phrase summarized the completion of all that the Father intended via original creation, all that the Son accomplished through redemption and all that the Spirit has been working toward.
The new heavens and the new earth is the accomplishment of God’s original purposes for creation. God intended for His fame and glory to spread through the world as His image (human beings) filled the earth. He intended for all things to come under His dominion. He intended for all to be subdued, for there to be the praise of His glory in all things (Genesis 1:28). In the new heavens and new earth, this intent will be fulfilled in every way.
The new heavens and the new earth is that time and place where the curse of Genesis 3 is reversed. No longer will the thorns and thistles multiply; no longer will sorrow and suffering dominate; no longer the pain, the sadness, the brokenness of sinful relationships. Instead, God Himself will wipe away every tear, there will be no more mourning, no more death (Revelation 21).
The new heavens and the new earth is where God Himself will dwell with His people for all eternity. Having been removed from His presence through sin (Genesis 3), God has been working to redeem His people, to live with them again, face-to-face. “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3).
The new heavens and the new earth is the goal. It is our purpose, our telos. I invite you to learn of this, to read of this and to pursue this goal with all your heart, soul, mind and strength—all to the praise of His glory!
For this Sunday, read Isaiah 65:17-25.
- In verse 17, God “creates” the new heavens and new earth. What does God creating this imply? What is the force of God’s creating mean?
- What is the connection between verses 18 and 19? Why do you think they are listed this way?
- Verse 20-22 are all trying to communicate the same idea. What is it, and why does the author choose to communicate it in this manner? How might we choose to speak of it today?
- How would you rephrase the promise of verse 24? What is God trying to communicate? What other biblical texts come to mind? Any expression of this in your own life?
- How are the main points listed above (God’s dwelling, reverse of the curse, fulfillment of creation) encapsulated in these verses? How does each appear? What would it look like in your life for these to become true?
By Henry Knapp