All things new

Revelation 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

                New Year’s Day – it carries the idea of something new and it is a time when many celebrate and make resolutions that will affect them and perhaps others: something new or perhaps something old with new determination. The most often made resolution is to lose weight or get into shape for the next year. But all too often the month of January is not closed until most of these are broken or abandoned.

            In our Scripture text for the week God says that there is coming a day when He will make all things new. When God says He will do something you can depend upon it, so we can look forward to having all things new someday. The Bible speaks of a new heaven and earth wherein dwells righteousness. This world has been corrupted by man’s fall and the prevalence of sin abounding on every hand.  We hear it on the news and read about it in the papers and on the internet – killings, stealing, violations of all types – and it is getting worse all the time. How refreshing that will be when all things are made new. Most if not all people would be glad to share in such a place – no murders, rapes, stealing or any other violations upon man and nature.

            This is what makes heaven inviting to people, but there is one catch – only those who have been made new now by the power of God will be permitted to enter that wonderful place. Anyone who has not been made new by God will not be there. Think about it for a minute – if all the criminals and wicked people were permitted to enter heaven (a place where there will be no sin) without being made new, then heaven would become just like our present earth. This earth was not made sinful, but that occurred after Adam and Eve sinned in disobeying God and things just went from bad to worse from that point on. It was because of sin and wickedness that God destroyed the earth with a flood and Noah and his family started over with a clean earth. But soon it also became corrupt as mankind continued in their plunge downward into sin and wickedness. At Christmas God gave the world the most precious Gift – His Son – that through Him mankind can be made new – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The world did not have room for Jesus that first Christmas and today after years of sin and sinfulness, the world once again has no room for Jesus. But there are those who still seek Him and when He is found they too become new through God’s power, the Holy Spirit, and their life begins a new way of living, thinking and responding. We are getting ready for that new heaven and new earth where will be no sin and corruption.

            The only way anyone will enter into that new place is through a personal relationship with Christ and being made new by God’s power. We may still live in fallen bodies that are affected by sin and corruption. We may still experience the results of sin – sickness, disease, and all the physical, mental and emotional maladies that accompany our fallen bodies. But our hearts are made new and as we live for Him and allow Him to change us day by day; we will be prepared for that new place and the new life in eternity. Surrender to Him today and make 2020 the year of new life.