Newness

Newness

“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.” – Revelation 2:5

The future awaiting the people of God is a future of “newness”. Prophetically, God will “make” a new heaven and earth. A new year now stares us in the face but its “newness” so far as the calendar, will still be stained with the “oldness” of characteristics passed on year by year by a fallen world. The cast of characters walking across the New Year’s stage will be collectively a cast of sinners possessing the genes of the fallen nature of Adam. The Year, 2022, will be a Year of death, criminal activity, murder, and all of the other negative outcomes of fallen nature!
The New Year will also be a Year of “newness” of wonderful and positive things. The Christian can expect the “newness” of God’s mercy and grace to match the challenges of the New Year. Material and tangible things experience negative change over the course of time but there is a “newness” associated with those spiritually alive in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – II Corinthians 5:17 The implication of being “in Christ” is that of “union” which means the constant flow of nourishment and support from our living source, God, Himself!
We, who are “in Christ”, live in a spiritual sphere of perpetual “newness” enjoying His ongoing supply of joy and peace associated with new life in Christ. He is alive, we share His resurrection life and are continually sustained by His life. I think of Paul’s words in II Corinthians 3:18. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” There is a transforming influence in exposure to the truth of Scripture and glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christian is being transformed more and more into the image of Jesus Christ as they are changed from one degree of glory to another!
There is far more of a “newness” to be enjoyed than simply another calendar year. This coming New Year will, no doubt, be a year with its share of pressing issues and taxing stresses. Praise God, the person saved will still live on the victory side of Christ’s finished work and can expect the blessed “newness” of God’s ongoing grace and work in the lives of those “in Christ”! The One who “makes all things new” is continually doing a work of sanctification in the lives of His people and will ultimately even make a new heaven and earth.
Are you a “new creature in Christ Jesus”? If so, you are prepared for a New Year. If not, I would recommend that you trust Him for salvation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” – Romans 10:9
“Happy New Year”

Chuck Peters