New


"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. ... I heard a shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.' And the one sitting on the throne said,'Look I am making everything new!' ... " Revelations 21:1-5

As I walked out of the store carrying my brand new sport coat, I was pretty excited. We don't do new very often. It fit just right. The color was spot on for the occasion at hand. My first daughter was about to get married. All kinds of new emotions filled my heart as we prayed and planned for the big day. And now, all those new emotions inside would be covered by a new coat on the outside. The pictures from that day revealed a radiant bride and an emotional dad. A new family was birthed. All that had been was no more. The new had come.  

As John listened to and watched everything that was going on around him, he just kept saying "new." As he recorded God's words, God kept saying "new" too. Here at the end of God's written revelation, the central theme is "new." For all who have placed their trust in Christ, the joy that lies ahead is rooted in the reality that God is "making everything new." All that has been twisted by sin, will be twisted no more. Life will never again be interrupted by death. No distance will ever exist again between God and his people.  

There are many reasons why this message of newness was given to those who were still in the here and now, including us. God's heart is for all of us to enter into his newness. The most important question we all need to ask ourselves is, "Is our name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?" Another reason this message is important for us now is the reality that life is tough, particularly so for those who want to follow Jesus in the same world that crucified him. We need to be reminded repeatedly that this world is not the end of the story. Be strong and courageous today. The new is coming!  

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