Hi Gary,
It is quite confusing see how this world is now and how any good can come out of all this. But the way I see it, it's from the experience itself that we will gain. While we are actually living our lives we are gaining valuable knowledge form the experiences, whether it be good or evil.
Right now we are somewhere in the first phase of God's plan for this human race, it's pretty messy and really quite difficult to bare what is happening in the world right now. The way I understand it, this process is necessary. In order to build character we go through some really painful experiences in which to learn about evil first. BUT there is another phase yet to come and it will rectify and correct all that is wrong with what we have now.
Now as far as not remembering this life and it's experiences, I do not believe that is exactly how it will be. It is more of a thing like it will not come into our mind, or we will not hold on and agonize over the memories from what happened to us in this life. Here is a better translation of that verse in Isaiah.
Isa 65:17 For, behold me! Creating new heavens, and a new earth,—And the former shall not be mentioned, neither shall they come up on the heart, (Rotherham)
This is a email that I think will help with your question.
http://bible-truths.com/email2.htm ------------------------
I will give you some of the reason "why we are here."
A great and wise creator GOD PUT US HERE. He started the human family.
God is not stupid, He had a grand and eternal purpose in mind for making mankind.
God has many attributes, powers, knowledge, etc., that obviously mankind DOES NOT. But, God DOES WANT us to have those same attributes, especially LOVE!
Qualities of character such as Love are not instantaneously created, they must be developed. That development takes a creation, circumstances, and time. And so, God creates all these things necessary for their development.
Although God is GOOD, He nonetheless has a knowledge and understanding of both good AND EVIL. And so we TOO much come to an understanding of both good and evil. Why? Because ALL KNOWLEDGE hinges on their proper understanding.
People say things without ever realizing how stupid or impossible their thoughts or statements are. Most Christians suppose that if Adam and Eve had not sinned, then we all would STILL, right now, be enjoying the beautiful life of happiness and bliss in a fabulous garden of Eden. NOT SO!!! Adam and Eve did NOT appreciate what they had with God in the garden before they sinned. They had NO CONTRAST to compare it with.
Now here is a key piece of understanding and wisdom. God wants CHILDREN. God is building a FAMILY. Children are to grow up and have the attributes of their parents. But these things must be LEARNED BY EXPERIENCE! Not only didn't Adam and Eve appreciate what they had, they ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT have appreciated what they had, because they experienced ONLY GOOD.
Try to come up with even ONE VIRTUE, such as love, patience, honesty, goodness, faithfulness, loyalty, obedience, bravery, etc., etc., etc., ANYTHING of a virtuous nature, that does not involve the overcoming of SOME FORM OF EVIL! There is you answer! There IS NO VIRTUE, NO CHARACTER, NO STABILITY of any kind in any one, except he overcomes some form of EVIL.
Now can you see why we are here? Now can you see why there is not only good, but so much evil in the world? It is necessary! God did not put it here simply to make us miserable! God is NOT in a battle for supremacy with Satan. God CREATED Satan. God USES Satan. And Satan too, will be saved after he has done all of his dirty work. God will make him repent.
God is enlarging His family into BILLIONS of sons and daughters. This life is part of the training ground to be the very SONS OF GOD.
All evil including DEATH itself will be abolished when God has used them to bring His family to a level of love and righteousness that He desires. We will then inherit all that God has and all that God is. God is truly OUR FATHER.
I hope that helps your understanding a little better. Life will not always be miserable and painful as it may seem to you now. This too shall pass.
Sincerely,
Ray