Here are some comforting words for the New Year: “He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true" (Revelation 21:5). When someone says, “write this down” or “mark my word”, they seem fairly confident. These words of the Lord can be trusted because they are true. If you are like me, there are some things from 2013 you not only want to see made better but also made new. Will 2014 be perfect? I can’t promise 2014 will be better and seemingly new for you. I do pray it is full of love, joy, peace and (if need be) a fresh start. But you will probably encounter heartache, disappointment, and suffering in some form.
I do believe the Lord can help you in and through any situation, relationship, or disappointment. Jesus said we will have trouble in this world but He has overcome this world (John 16:33). He didn’t abandon us when He ascended back to Heaven only to suffer indefinitely till eternity. He gave us the promised Person of the Holy Spirit: our Comforter, Counselor, Friend, and Advocate (i.e. John 14:26; John 16:7). The Holy Spirit, Who indwells only the saved soul and never the unsaved soul, is your source of daily instruction, hope, direction, and conviction of sin. God is always with the Christian through the Holy Spirit and will never leave or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5) on this earth. But this earth and its situations will never be perfect. However, in Eternity (the context of Revelation 21:5) everything will be made new. So what is He making new?
Remember the Lord is saying all this seated on His throne of the Universe. No matter what form of evil we may encounter in this present age He wants us to be sure of the age to come where He will make all things new because He is King of all. One thing God will make new in eternity is our bodies as we will not be disembodied spirits in Heaven. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." This earthly body dies and we are promised a new body. Paul said in Philippians 3:20-21, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” We will one day have glorious bodies like His. This new body will never hurt, cry, tire, or die.
God will also make us pure morally and spiritually. Revelation 21:9-11 says, “’Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Just think – one day God will give us His glory and will purify us perfectly till we shine like a rare and clear jewel free from sin. Our worship will not be hindered by sin - fully experiencing God in all His glory. Verse 3 says our relationship with Him will be perfect. “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them." Yes, God dwells with us now (1 Cor. 6:19; Matthew 28:20) but one day we shall see His face (Revelation 22:4) and see Him as He truly is (1 John 3:2).
We also inherit a new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Talk about an extreme makeover! Romans 8:21 says, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the liberty of the glory of the children of God." Not only are we remade inside and out but the very place we will live in will be perfect! Imagine something better than a New Year – A New Eternity! We will live eternally in a perfect place, with perfect hearts and minds, in perfect bodies, with a perfect relationship with God! Behold! He is making all things new!
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