He is making everything new!

It seems like day after day there is more news about the sadness and sickness that crawls through our nations, local communities and lives. News of cancer, mental health and depression, news of the passing of both young and old, news of broken bones and broken families. Maybe it's the current health situation and maybe it's because we're expecting "Christmas cheer" but the news weighs heavy on all our hearts. 

Be it the pain and sickness, or the sin and corruption we see in our world today, God's Word hits it right on the head when it says that all creation groans in eager longing for the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:18-23). The health crisis that we've spent our year in has been a year long advent as we groan and take on each day waiting for lockdowns to end and normalcy to return. We don't know when this will come to an end. It reminds me of the prophecies that were told of Christ's coming as families and generations waited and longed for the coming of the foretold Messiah, only to not see the promise fulfilled, and having to pass on the promise to the next generation in hopes that the prophesied King would come then. 

But Christ did come and prophecy was fulfilled. Now, as we live on the other side of that fulfilled promise, we look ahead to the promises that have yet to be fulfilled. God is faithful, and what He says, He will do. Last week I read Revelation 21:1-5 to my students as we talked about what Advent means and it says, 

REVELATION 21:1-5 // Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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.”

He is making everything new! Everything - will be made new. For the believer, there is sure hope that God will dwell with us one day, that He will be our God and we will be His people. The groaning, the pain, the sighing, the viruses, it will all be wiped away - not because hope is placed in a vaccine or a government, or in technology or in one's own strength but because hope, a true and living hope, is found in God alone.

This verse and this truth of the renewal of our bodies and restoration makes me think of my grandmother who has been sitting in her nursing home for months, unable to see the key pad on her phone to dial family members, unable to hear them when she does call. She wants to read God's Word but she can't see the words in her Bible. She wants to hear God's Word but she can't work the CD player. I thank God that she continues to hold fast to Him, leaning on Him and giving thanks to Him for every little thing she accomplishes - even if it is successfully getting up off her chair. Grams, your sight and hearing will one day will be restored, your feeble bones will be strengthened, and your body will be made new! 

God has come to save sinners - behold the Lamb of God who has come to take away the sin of the world. 
And God will come again to make all things new. Do you believe that and is your hope placed in Him alone?

As the Advent season comes to an end and Christmas Day arrives - may our eyes ever be fixed upon Jesus Christ, the greatest gift, the author and perfecter of our faith. He is coming again, and when He comes, He will make everything new. O come Lord Jesus come.