“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
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 21:3-5 (NIV)
I once walked into a Thrift Store for a new lamp. As I walked to the back of the store to the lamp section, I looked on the ground and what did my eyes behold? A gently used 1991 Burton Craig Kelly Air complete with ORIGINAL bindings! I looked around This had to be some kind of joke. “Are my buddies here with this thing tied to a string? If I reach for it, will they pull it away and make me chase it all over the store?” I reached down and grabbed it to view the price, $9.99. DUH! I went directly to the register. I could buy a lamp any day, but this was a ’91 Craig Kelly Air!
God is working to make ALL THINGS NEW, not to make ALL NEW THINGS. His work has been started in you, and will be finished and renewed! You are worth the work.
Thinking back on that board, it would take some work to get that board back to its prime fighting shape. (Like Rocky training to beat Ivan Drago!) It had rusty edges, some serious gouges in the base, and a slightly cracked toe strap. It really would be easier to leave this board for some other sucker and just get a new board, one that is perfect, ready to ride, and waxed up.
When John, the author of the last book in the Bible, wrote these words, he knew that some things are worth the work. The renewing of all things is the work that God did to become human. He “moved into the neighborhood” (as the Message Bible puts it) and got to work, making all things new. That work would be to make ALL THINGS NEW, not to make ALL NEW THINGS. God’s work is being done in you, and you are worth it. It’s all part of the renewing of all things.
Challenge
• Do you feel like you are being made new?
• In what ways do you see yourself being renewed?
• How can you help show others that they are worth the work, and being renewed?
By Sean G| Denver, CO