All Things New

Revelation 21:5 – “And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also, He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'”

If the Mayan calendar conspiracy theory was true, we would not be here today greeting this new year of 2013; instead, we would be swimming with the fishes literally due to a global flood, breathing in the last bits of clean air not contaminated by ashes from a super volcano explosion, or fighting for food and shelter from the zombie apocalypse awaiting outside our doors. Fortunately, none of that was true, but the year certainly ended on a much sadder note for a lot of people. Some were still cleaning up their homes after the devastation brought about by Hurricane Sandy in late October. Some were mourning the loss of sons, daughters, and/or friends in tragedy Newton, Connecticut tragedy. Some were fearing the loss of jobs as the US Congress continued to debate the economic bill that would keep us from falling off the “fiscal cliff.” The year 2012 definitely did not end on the happiest note for all. For some of us, it might have just been a few unfulfilled resolutions, some things left undone, and some regrets of missed opportunities. I don’t know how the year went for you personally, but whether or not it ended well, I have some good news for you – Every 365 days, you are given another chance to start the year over again. You get another chance to correct mistakes, another chance to see a new day, another chance to hear some good news that can turn a current frown upside down. You get a whole new year. It is comforting to know that every January 1st, you get something-like a “reset” button for the year; but even more comforting is the knowledge that God provided us a “reset” button spiritually, as well, in the form of Christ.

In the beginning, God created the world and man perfectly. There was no sin, no tears, no hardship, no wrong. There was no need to water or fertilize the plants to make sure that it would produce fruit. There was no need to worry that animals would become feral and attack. There was no need to pay the bills. There was no empty hole in the heart that needed to be filled. There was no need for guilt, remorse, or regret. Everything was perfect. We had a perfect relationship with God that included conversations while strolling in a garden in the cool of the day. But one day, man sinned. Adam and Eve chose to partake of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3). They chose to deliberately disobey God’s command for them not to eat of that fruit and in turn also distrusted Him for provision, protection, and what was best for them. From that point forward, man and the world was cursed. Food now needed to be worked hard for, in that, toil had to be put in just to make sure that plants would grow. Child-birth would become a pain, in that, although a bundle of joy would be delivered a struggle would have to occur first. And worse of all, our relationship with God would be ripped asunder, creating a hole in every heart that could never be filled materially but only spiritually with God. There would no longer be walks with God, but a need for a mediator to intercede between us. Life was ruined. Game Over! No chance to start again.

But God provided us with a “reset” button – a chance to have all things made new once again, a chance for all things to be returned to their proper place and condition. He sent this “reset” button in the form of His Son Jesus Christ. He came to this earth to give us a brand new life, another chance to experience a correct and close relationship with Him. Jesus Christ came to this earth and died on the cross for our sins to provide us a chance to have this new correct relationship to Him. He wanted to give us a chance to have a restored relationship with Him. It is interesting that the beginning of the Bible in Genesis starts with the fall of man and a destroyed relationship, but the end of the Bible in Revelation finishes with the phrase, “Behold, I am making all things new.” In the last days, when Christ returns, we will have a new heaven and a new earth – a place of no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no sin, and no death. We will have a new place to live in where lion and lamb can lie together without bloodshed, where all men are seen the same in the eyes of God, and where all worship the one and true God. Most importantly, we will be able to experience a new aspect in our relationship with God, where we will be in the presence of God physically worshiping, praising, and communing with Him. It is described in the book of Revelation that there will be no need of sun or light, since our source of light will be God Himself. He will be that close. It is amazing to think about how God will make all things new when He returns.
One thing we must not forget though is that Christ when He enters our lives begins to make all things new in our hearts right at that moment. In our passage today, Christ specifically says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” The verb making is in the present tense, meaning that right at this moment, Christ is already making things new. Now, Christ certainly could not have been making a reference to the things we are yet to experience in the new heaven and earth which are not present yet. Instead, He must have been making reference to the hearts, lives, and relationships of His disciples. Those who follow Christ are made into “new creations,” old things have passed and behold all things have become new. He is turning our wicked, hardened, sin-filled hearts into pure, soft, Christ-centered sources of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He is turning our self-gratifying lives into lives that seek to honor, worship, and glorify Him. He is turning our broken relationship with Him into a close-knit personal relationship where we can be free to talk, pray, and hear from Him directly through His Word. All things are made new.

Just like we have a new opportunity to retry our resolutions every new year, Christ has given us an opportunity to have a new relationship with Him. For those who have yet to receive Him, turn to Him today and begin the year with a new life. But for those who have received Him and are already being made new, let us make it one of our resolutions this year to live out that new life in Him. Start by beginning each day this year communing with Him through daily Bible reading and prayer. Continue by living out your life in obedience to Him throughout the day, showing that new life to the world. And finish off each day by praying that this year may be one in which He brings new life to your unsaved family members and friends. Let’s live out the new life we have been given in Christ this new year. God Bless and have a Happy New Year that will be filled with many spiritual blessings in addition to the material.