He makes all things new...
In Psalms, it says that the Lord will put a new song in my mouth (Ps. 40:3). And again in Psalms it says for us to sing a new song to the Lord (Ps. 98:1). We believe that this “new song” is one that God puts in the hearts of those who believe in Him: those who have given their lives to Jesus. It is a continual thing that takes place, daily. One day, we will sing with thousands upon thousands to the Lord, that new song of praise! Today is a good day to start fresh with a song of praise and thankfulness.
The prophet Isaiah talks about new things as he prophesies a new heavens and a new earth that is yet to come. Those who belong to Jesus will each be given a new name. Wow! The Lord Himself will name each one of us who love Him.
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that there would be a day coming when the Lord would make a new covenant (new testament) with all people (Jer. 31:31); one not based on keeping the law (because no one could perfectly keep it due to the sinful nature), but one based on faith and belief in God – a faith and belief that brings about a changed life. That faith is one that acknowledges that Jesus, came to redeem us and ransom us from eternal death and hell by dying on the cross and rising to life.
The prophet Ezekiel prophesied that God would grant a new spirit for those with an undivided heart who serve the Lord (Ez. Chapters 11, 18, and 36). Ezekiel's prophecy follows the prophecy given by Jeremiah which was based on the coming new covenant.
In the gospels, Jesus proclaims that his body and his blood are the new covenant that grants a new spirit to those with a heart that longs to please the Lord. The book of Acts tells of the new life that comes from that spirit that God gives us; His Spirit united with ours so that we are now the children of God. It is by that Spirit that we can live a new life as spoken about in Romans 6, 7, and 8.
II Corinthians reminds us that the apostles are the ministers of the new covenant. The term “minister” is often misconstrued to mean the guy in the robe or the suit and tie that stands in front of a congregation of people and preaches a nice message every Sunday. But a minister is in fact the one who administers the Gospel. He presents the new covenant and its terms. Those who listen and are part of the family of God are the ones who take it and DO it, they are to BE that new covenant example that is administered and overseen by the apostles. This includes all who are called of the Lord. The apostle Paul gives the instructions of how that new covenant is lived out. All the people who walk with Jesus are the ones who live it and Jesus is our perfect example!
In II Corinthians the Lord, through Paul, expresses how the believer is now a new creation, the old has gone (II Cor. 3:6). In Galatians (Gal. 6:15) Paul expresses that what counts is a new creation. In Ephesians (Eph. 4:23,24) he says we are made new in the attitude of our mind (put off your old self) and to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (put on the new self). In Colossians (Col. 3:1-10) Paul spells out the obvious deeds of darkness that we are to put off so that we can put ON the new spirit of the good deeds.
In Hebrews (Heb. Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 12), Paul shows from a Jewish perspective that which Jesus did and how He fulfilled all the requirements to be the new high priest, the one who mediated the new covenant, the one who opened up for us a new and living way to enter the presence of God the father through Jesus without the protocol of the Hebraic priesthood any longer that kept the people at a distance.
In I Peter (1:3) Peter expresses the born again experience, a new birth in the Spirit. And in II Peter, Peter speaks of the prophesied promise of a coming new heaven and a new earth as spoken of by the prophets of old.
In I John (2:8) John explains what the new command is, as the new covenant unfolds... love God, love one another.
Finally, in Revelation the apostle John has a vision of what the prophets of old prophesied. He saw that a stone was given to each believer with their new name written on it (Rev. 2:17). He saw the new Jerusalem, which is the Bride of Christ, pure and spotless (all true believers who endured till the end) coming down from heaven (Rev. 3:12). Lastly, he saw a new heaven and a new earth – a perfect one put in place for all eternity (Rev. 21:1).
So any new beginning can be a reminder that one day the promises of God will come to pass. This is the true believer's Hope. It is not a blind hope but a hope for which the down payment has been paid (the deposit of the Holy Spirit given to each one of us). Our spirits bear witness with His Spirit that we ARE children of God and our inheritance will come... If your spirit does not bear witness that you are for certain a child of God, ASK Him to make you His own, that you may know Jesus as your very own treasured possession. It is a matter of giving Him everything.
Thank you Jesus, for the reminders that we celebrate, of your eternal goodness to us. Thank you that we have such an inheritance that is more than gold or precious stone; our inheritance is You and Your glorious eternal Kingdom of Life. We look for the day when we will enter that place and all sorrow will be erased. I am reminded of the song:
“It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.
Earth's trials will seem so small when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase.
So bravely run the race, till we see Christ!”