February 25
A world He has not abandoned
Ellen G. White
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." — Isaiah 45:18 · KJV
God created the earth to be man's home. Here Adam dwelt in that garden of delight which the Creator Himself had beautified. Though sin has marred God's work, yet the human race has not been abandoned by its Creator; nor His purpose for the earth set aside.
To this earth angels have come, with the message of redemption, and its hills and valleys have echoed their songs of rejoicing. Its soil has been trodden by the feet of the Son of God. And for more than six thousand years, in its forms of beauty and gifts for sustenance, the earth has borne witness of the Creator's love.
This same earth, freed from the curse of sin, is to be man's eternal home. Of the earth the Scripture says, that God “created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.” Isaiah 45:18. And “whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever.” Ecclesiastes 3:14.
So in the Sermon on the Mount the Saviour declared, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5.
So the psalmist long before had written, “The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11.
With this agree the words of the Scripture, “The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth.” They “shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” Proverbs 11:31; Psalm 37:29.
The fires of the last day are to destroy “the heavens and the earth, which are now;” but there shall come forth “new heavens and a new earth.” Peter 3:7, 13. The heavens and the earth will be made new.
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Corinthians 2:9.