Mike’s Musings  …

All Things New

   “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.” (Rev. 21:5)

   “All things new.” The phrase alone generates multiple thoughts toward a sermon: newness of life, a new creature in Christ, the new law of Christ, etc. Unfortunately, several tend to take passages such as Revelation 21:5 and connecting them with everything they know both spiritual and temporal. Yet, when left in the context of Revelation 21, the Lord’s statement makes perfect sense. The Spirit shows John the church of our Lord (new heaven and new earth), which he also calls, “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming from the presence of God as a bride adorned for her husband (vs. 2). The voice cries and declares, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with  them, and be their God.” (Compare 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 18) Within the church is joy (i.e. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” vs. 4) These “former things” are the life we once lived (see Romans 6; Ephesians 2). Through obedience to Christ, this old life (i.e. man of sin) is destroyed and buried in baptism that we rise to walk in newness of life. Therefore, “He that sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

   This is the greatest “newness” the soul can ever experience. And we that are faithful can enjoy this “newness” daily! 2 Corinthians 4:16 assures us of this fact, as does Colossians 3:10.

   So as we enter this newest of years in our lives, I muse on just how “new” we truly are as we enter 2021. The challenges of 2020 should have taught us well the truthfulness of Hebrews 13:5 – 6, and prepared us to face the unforeseen challenges with increased faith and conviction of God’s abiding care for us! But unless we truly learned the lessons, repented of our sins, and set our steps on the path of righteousness, we aren’t that “new” in this new year! Therefore, let’s set aside the old habits of excuse, laziness, doubt, and fear and realize the fullness of Colossians 3 and Galatians 2:20. Let’s fully appreciate our “newness” in Christ and its renewed strength that comes from the joyous habit of enriching our faith via His word daily (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 6:10 – 20; et al.)

   Finally, let’s all muse on the unfaltering zeal we soldiers of Christ must contain (Romans 8: 35 – 39) as we face the foes of righteousness that desire our failures! With Him, we cannot lose; without Him, we cannot win! Therefore, come what may in 2021, let us acknowledge daily that we are NEW in Him, and need never fear the evils of this world overcoming our faith; for we REFUSE to let our NEWNESS become tarnished with sin!