“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.’ And He said unto me, ‘It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.’” ~Revelation 21:5-7
How I love newness! I like change. I crave it, need it. It keeps me on my toes. There is only one unchanging thing which I love: God. The same yesterday, today and forever, He is the anchor in my life and the solidity from which any good change in me is born. Perhaps that’s why I like this season of the New Year. I especially like how it follows the Christmas season. I love to picture Jesus as a newborn babe. Subsequent thoughts of His life, death and resurrection build up in my mind into the culmination of one word…NEW. The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). His mercies weren't just for yesterday and we don’t have to wait for the future to lay hold of them because they are new each and every single morning!
The word ‘new’ also makes me think of the words 'now' and 'today'. I think of Joshua 24, where God says we should choose TODAY who we will dwell with. I remember living apart from Him, before He pursued me and won me with His love. I guess I really should rephrase that: I wasn’t living apart from Him. No, being apart from him means that I was actually dead. My sin had done me in. I had broken just about every one of God’s laws and therefore received my very own spiritual death sentence. I was a dead woman walking down the hall to the lethal injection chamber. The needles were dug in and the poison was ready. I was as good as dead. A short time later, I came to the understanding that I deserved it. But before the deadly mixture—created by my own sin—hit my veins, a miraculous thing happened. In walked Jesus, the same One whose first bed was a manger. Now grown, He lifted up His arm as if commanding the storm to stop. He then lay His life down in my place and bore the poison of my sin upon Himself. He said to me, “I love you. It is finished.”
“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.” ~Psalm 98:1
Talk about victory! Jesus came forth as the Holy Arm of God to intercede for me. He was born a baby and grew up to die for me. He no longer hangs on the cross, nor can He be found in the tomb, for the grave is empty. He is alive, seated at the right hand of the throne of God, continually interceding for all of us. (Hebrews 12:2)
So here we are, at the start of a new year. While many may use this time to plan resolutions, my mind seems to brim forth with thanks for what He has done in my life until this very moment. It amazes me that He sees my life as one of His masterpieces. It is also exciting to think about the plans He has for me and the new songs I might dedicate back to Him.
“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” ~Ephesians 2:10
I know that passage in Revelation 21 is referring to the New Heaven and Earth, where there will be no more tears and no more sin. For those who belong to Him, it is a hope-filled promise of what is to come. But you know, I see where He says “Behold, I make all things new,” and I say, man that is for right now. That is for us today. Like the Samaritan woman in John 4, He is offering us Living Water TODAY. We don’t have to be thirsty anymore. He can be our God and we can be His sons and daughters today. We don’t have to wait. In fact, we shouldn’t wait because there is no time to lose.
This is a long post, I know. I guess my mind won't stop on the topic of newness. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I pray God uses the things He shows me to speak to others. With this post, I especially pray for anyone who has not chosen Jesus today. Perhaps you’ve come to the realization that your sin has kept you separate from God. Maybe you’re a dead person walking, like I was. Maybe you've been trying to quench your thirst with lifeless junk that instead bleeds you dry and leaves you even more thirsty. Maybe you feel abandoned and fatherless. Dear one, please know that He already gave His life for yours. The question is, will you respond to His act of love by choosing to live with Him? He is a Gentleman. He doesn’t force us to do things. Love is not love if it be forced.
Behold, He makes all things new…
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Right now, today…
At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
May He draw you and bless you with Himself. May you fall in love with Him who loved you first.
How I love newness! I like change. I crave it, need it. It keeps me on my toes. There is only one unchanging thing which I love: God. The same yesterday, today and forever, He is the anchor in my life and the solidity from which any good change in me is born. Perhaps that’s why I like this season of the New Year. I especially like how it follows the Christmas season. I love to picture Jesus as a newborn babe. Subsequent thoughts of His life, death and resurrection build up in my mind into the culmination of one word…NEW. The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). His mercies weren't just for yesterday and we don’t have to wait for the future to lay hold of them because they are new each and every single morning!
The word ‘new’ also makes me think of the words 'now' and 'today'. I think of Joshua 24, where God says we should choose TODAY who we will dwell with. I remember living apart from Him, before He pursued me and won me with His love. I guess I really should rephrase that: I wasn’t living apart from Him. No, being apart from him means that I was actually dead. My sin had done me in. I had broken just about every one of God’s laws and therefore received my very own spiritual death sentence. I was a dead woman walking down the hall to the lethal injection chamber. The needles were dug in and the poison was ready. I was as good as dead. A short time later, I came to the understanding that I deserved it. But before the deadly mixture—created by my own sin—hit my veins, a miraculous thing happened. In walked Jesus, the same One whose first bed was a manger. Now grown, He lifted up His arm as if commanding the storm to stop. He then lay His life down in my place and bore the poison of my sin upon Himself. He said to me, “I love you. It is finished.”
“O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.” ~Psalm 98:1
Talk about victory! Jesus came forth as the Holy Arm of God to intercede for me. He was born a baby and grew up to die for me. He no longer hangs on the cross, nor can He be found in the tomb, for the grave is empty. He is alive, seated at the right hand of the throne of God, continually interceding for all of us. (Hebrews 12:2)
So here we are, at the start of a new year. While many may use this time to plan resolutions, my mind seems to brim forth with thanks for what He has done in my life until this very moment. It amazes me that He sees my life as one of His masterpieces. It is also exciting to think about the plans He has for me and the new songs I might dedicate back to Him.
“For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” ~Ephesians 2:10
I know that passage in Revelation 21 is referring to the New Heaven and Earth, where there will be no more tears and no more sin. For those who belong to Him, it is a hope-filled promise of what is to come. But you know, I see where He says “Behold, I make all things new,” and I say, man that is for right now. That is for us today. Like the Samaritan woman in John 4, He is offering us Living Water TODAY. We don’t have to be thirsty anymore. He can be our God and we can be His sons and daughters today. We don’t have to wait. In fact, we shouldn’t wait because there is no time to lose.
This is a long post, I know. I guess my mind won't stop on the topic of newness. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I pray God uses the things He shows me to speak to others. With this post, I especially pray for anyone who has not chosen Jesus today. Perhaps you’ve come to the realization that your sin has kept you separate from God. Maybe you’re a dead person walking, like I was. Maybe you've been trying to quench your thirst with lifeless junk that instead bleeds you dry and leaves you even more thirsty. Maybe you feel abandoned and fatherless. Dear one, please know that He already gave His life for yours. The question is, will you respond to His act of love by choosing to live with Him? He is a Gentleman. He doesn’t force us to do things. Love is not love if it be forced.
Behold, He makes all things new…
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Right now, today…
At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you. Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
May He draw you and bless you with Himself. May you fall in love with Him who loved you first.
1 comment:
God is so amazing, beyond what my mind can comprehend. Just to think that He could make a worthless sinner His masterpiece! Praise God!
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