Happy New Year, everyone!
Well, this is the time where many of us are, depending on our experiences and current circumstances, looking back with fondness/regret and looking forward with hope/dread. When I reflect upon the past year (the past several years, actually) I am amazed at how the Lord has changed and shaped my life and perspective. I’m sure it’s part of the aging process (I’m almost ancient, you know), but it truly amazes me how much a person can change in such a short period of time.
Like all of you, I have both good memories and bad ones. I remember times of incredible pain and times of incredible joy; times where I was stupid and (less vividly) times when I was wise. Of course, the “stupid” memories are the ones that are most prevalent. I wish there was some way to know everything I need to know about life so that I would never make any mistakes, but I’m told time and experience are the best teachers…
I’ve never been one for “new year’s resolutions” but this year I think I have a few. Without going into them all, I will say that my core desire is for Christ to continue creating in me a clean and loving heart. It’s encouraging to know that the God of the universe is able to mold me into whatever He desires me to be if I will just continue looking to Him, the Author and Finisher of faith.
In the last book of the New Testament the “city of God” is described in detail. It’s a beautiful picture, not only of what is to come, but of what God is doing, even now, in the midst of His people. Jesus said that “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is’ or, ‘There it is’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21). In other words, God is already moving in and through us. His “kingdom” is so real that it’s already beginning to affect our lives, even though we don’t physically see it yet.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.” ~Revelation 21:1-6
While we live on this earth we will still face sorrows and even death… but when you look at the above verses in a spiritual context it is incredible! When God comes into our lives, He takes away our misery, our filthiness, and makes us beautifully adorned with His life. He takes away our earthly sorrows and gives us joy, in spite of our circumstances. He gives us His life. My favorite part of this verse is that He makes “all things new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Even though I have already embraced this truth, I am clinging to this promise more than ever for this new year.
Whatever mistakes or sorrows you may be carrying from the past year (or several years), I pray that you, too, will ask Jesus to come into your life—or continue working your life—and make “all things new.” That you will allow Him to clothe you with His salvation (Isa 61:10), turn your mourning into dancing (Ps 30:11), your sorrow into joy; that you will, no matter what you may have faced in the past, cling to God’s promise of “newness of life” (Ro 6:4). I pray that God will give you a fresh picture of Himself so that you will come to know and trust Him even more deeply than you do already.
His words are “faithful and true.” He is abiding in us! Let’s rejoice in that, shake off our doubts and fears and press on.
And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true” . . .
~Revelation 22:5-6For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness. ~Psalm 18:28
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:12-14
