Question from a reader:

As I read Genesis 1 over and over again, the word “let” keeps bouncing out at me.  GOD “let” there be light.  GOD “let” there be firmament.  GOD “let” the waters gather together.  GOD “let” the Earth bring forth grass. God “let” there be light, etc.

It made me think of when my earthly dad let me do something, it felt so good.  And I thought of GOD “letting” us have the Earth, heavens, light, grass, etc. He didn’t have to—we in no way deserved it.  Being the loving Father that He is, He LET us have these things to enjoy.

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

I like that. It moves our hearts to gratitude for God’s kindness in giving us a home to live in, not only our eternal home in the New Heaven and Earth, but our first home on the present Earth. He’s going to prepare a place for us, a vast renovation of the first place, but He already prepared a place for us in the beginning, and we messed it up. So on the New Earth, where we’re with the resurrected Jesus as resurrected people forever, who knows what else He’s going to say “Let there be…” about!

For more information on the subject of Heaven, see Randy Alcorn’s book Heaven.