Let us read Isaiah 65:16 to get the context. “Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My sight!” (NASB). The “former troubles” mentioned in verse 16 help us to understand what the “former things” were in verse 17.

Throughout the history of mankind, there has been trouble. As Job said in Job 5:7, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” We also read in Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” What causes all of the trouble? The problem is that we are all sinners. As we read in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Sin has consequences. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin results in death. However, the free gift of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ is available to all. Christ has done all of the work with his death on the cross. Our responsibility is “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

What a wonderful day it will be when the former troubles of this sinful world will not even come to our minds. We will be experiencing “fullness of joy” and “pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11) with our Savior. Will you be there with us? If you have not yet trusted in the Lord Jesus as your Savior, please do so today! (312.3) (DJ)