Recently, I was looking at new cars at an automobile dealership. The salesman was very keen to point out all the wonderful features of the new model-year vehicles.  He said that the dramatic styling was much more exciting than last year’s model.  I replied that the numerous creases and folds would certainly hide dents and collision damage.  He talked at great length about the high-tech infotainment system, but I replied that I didn’t really want that degree of complexity.  The salesman was very proud of the traffic monitoring and collision avoidance systems but, again, I replied that I didn’t want any of that.   

With a note of disappointment in his voice, the salesman asked if I really wanted a new car.  At that moment, I realized that what I really wanted was a brand-new model of the old car I’ve been driving for several years. 

I’m no luddite.  I don’t object to technological and safety advances.  I’m just so satisfied with my current car that I don’t want something different.  What I really want is to purchase new again the same car I’ve had for years. 

In today’s second reading, the prophet saw a vision of “a new heavens and a new earth.” (Rv. 21:1)  In the vision, God spoke and said, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Rv 21:5)  The meaning of “new” in this Scripture passage is exactly what I want as a “new” car.  I want the same car I have, but new again.  In a like manner, God promises the faithful a new creation that is not a replacement of the existing order of creation but a renewed universe that is completely free from evil and wholly obedient to God’s will. 

On one hand, a renewed creation is a very consoling promise.  Imagine living in a world of complete innocence, perfect justice, and wholehearted faithfulness.  I’d be happy to trade in my current experience for that new world.  I could be happy forever enjoying the life given to me but made free from sin and death.  I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling than an eternity of perfect faith in God and perfect relationships with family and friends. 

On the other hand, there might be some who object to a complete and perfect renewal of the world.  The common cultural images of the afterlife tend to portray eternity as either a purely spiritual, non-corporeal existence that is a rejection of the physical world or as a purely self-indulgent, materialistic existence that satisfies one’s concupiscence.  Those who embrace these cultural values will probably find God’s promise to be unsatisfactory as God promises neither a substitute for this world nor an eternity ruled by consumerism.   

If you’re uncertain about where to place your hope, I’ll offer some clarification and guidance. 

The common cultural image of eternity as a spiritual, quasi-angelic, non-corporeal existence might sound enticing until one considers it rationally.  There is an undeniable spiritual aspect to human existence and, certainly, one would want that spiritual side of one’s nature to endure beyond death.  There is, however, an equally undeniable physical aspect to human existence.  The two are not separable.   

Everything that is spiritual about us depends entirely on everything that is physical about us.  Our knowledge, our relationships, our opinions, our joys, and our sorrows are physical experiences as well as spiritual experiences.  It might be tempting to think about having a perfect, non-physical existence for all eternity, but that would not be a human existence; it would exclude, among other things, all the people whom we know and love. 

The western cultural image of eternity as transmutation into an angelic realm is not only inadequate but non-sensical.  The other common cultural image of eternal reward as a perfect, limitless satisfaction of all one’s consumer desires is foolish and dangerous.   

An eternity of enjoying one’s hedonistic desires might sound very satisfying unless one considers the consequences.  If the satisfaction of materialistic desires is your idea of heaven, please consider the fact that many other people hold this same opinion.  Imagine, for a moment, being surrounded for eternity by people whose only activity is fulfilment of their self-serving desires.  This sounds more like hell than heaven.  Then, imagine the possible outcomes of such an eternity.  It could well happen that one of your fellow consumers might look at you and decide what I decided about a new car.  Do you really want to take the risk of being expelled from consumer’s eternity because another consumer decides that you are not what they want? 

The renewed heavens and earth promised by God sounds like a great mercy when compared to the various versions of heaven and earth we would invent for ourselves.  I know that there are some people who are disappointed to hear God say, “Behold, I make all things new” rather than ‘Behold, I make all things you,’ but that disappointment isn’t supported by any objective evidence. 

The new heavens and new earth are not another iteration of creation, one richer in consumer goods and experiences, but a renewed creation.  God promises not a different creation, but one perfected.  This belief requires two habitual responses.  First, we must acknowledge that this present world is, and will ever be, the recipient of God’s Grace.  This world, pronounced good when it was created, is an expression of God’s will for us.  It is not to be abandoned or replaced but raised up.  Second, this new, redeemed life begins now, if at all.  Today, and every day, we are called to live the new life of baptism, to be renewed by God’s gracious mercy, and to be witnesses to the renewal at work in the world. 

As enticing as they might sound, the human versions of heaven are expressions of hopelessness.  By comparison, God’s promise to renew all creation is something worth hoping for and living for.