The age of blessedness

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.  The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. .... Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. ... For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them."  Is 65:17-23 (NIV)

Reading the passage above, one cannot help but wonder we have arrived at this age of blessedness, considering that people are living longer these days.  The life expectancy of a person born in Singapore is between 78 and 82, depending on whether you're a male or female.  In fact, the proportion of those aged 65 and above will double to 20%t in 2020.  To support the economy, many elderly folks would have to continue working; otherwise the young would have to support the old.

Looking at the passage, you would see that we have not arrived yet.  In the age to come, no infant will die young or be doomed to misfortune.  And those who reach a 100 years old is considered only a child, and if you fail to reach a 100, you are considered accursed.  The work that the people do would be blessed by the LORD.  It would be productive, meaningful and enjoyable.   Most work nowadays are not very pleasant but burdensome and stressful.

I was reminded of the frailty of the human body when ministering to a few elderly church members.  Two in particular had problems with their eyesight; unable to see clearly or have no vision in one eye.  Another two had migraine problem while a third mentioned that he had weak limbs.  I also prayed for a sister on wheelchair who had problems with her bladder/urinary tract.  My own dad also had a problem with his pelvic bone due to osteoporosis.  I managed to pray for him in the hospital, even though he is not a believer, when he went for an injection to relief his pain.

The age of blessedness would come when this old world order is destroyed by fire and God ushers in a new millennium age by creating new heavens and a new earth.  Indeed, the former manner of things would be forgotten whereby God ushers in the millennial reign of Christ on earth.  The figure of a person living according to the age of a tree is a picture of the everlasting life that mankind would enjoy in God's righteous kingdom whereby it would be like the idyllic state of Eden at the beginning of time.  Once the millennial reign of Christ ends, God will usher in the dispensation of the everlasting kingdom.