Utopia

The term ‘utopia’ is attributed to Sir Thomas More – an English lawyer, statesman and aide to the famous English monarch, King Henry VIII. Utopia is an imagined place where its citizens live in highly desirable or almost perfect conditions, which can vary according to the ideals and desires of the imaginary citizens. No traffic jams. No diseases. In utopia, a chocolate addict would be able to eat chocolate in copious quantities without fear of ill health or weight gain. Coffee connoisseurs sip away on bottomless lattes. A sports car lover could drive fast cars day after day. And dogs would chase cars, chew bones and sleep – much like they do now!

But More had no need to invent this imaginary place of perfection and beauty. God had already promised something better. A perfect world. Not according to human imagination or fantasy. But according to God’s standards.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14, NIV)

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:30,31, NIV)

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 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.” (Isaiah 65:17-20, NIV)

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” (Revelation 21:3,4, NIV)

The Bible speaks of a place called paradise. Unlike utopia, paradise is not a fantasy or a product of the imagination, it is a real promise of God. As well as describing what the future paradise will be like, the Bible also reveals the process by which God will grant us entry into that time and place.

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, NIV)

Read about the process to find paradise in God’s Word, the Bible.