All Things New

Someone once said, “The loneliest point in life is when you feel like you have just done the ultimate that will give you satisfaction, only to find that it doesn’t.” Have you ever wondered why the scriptures talk about all things new? Maybe you’ve never experienced new life in Christ, which alone gives ultimate satisfaction. Luke 12:15 says, Take heed, and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Are we so pleasure-centered that it is impossible to understand the new and wondrous things Christ has for us both now and later?

            Let’s start with this: The Apostle, in II Corinthians 5:17 talks about the new creature. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

            Jeremiah expounds upon a very important daily exercise, declaring:  It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-23). Dwell on that and be thankful for the Lord’s new compassions which are available every morning.

            Paul talks about the new man in Ephesians 2:15, speaking of the body of Christ, and in Ephesians 4:24, he speaks of the regenerated man, Christ formed in the believer. He not only makes a new man out of us, but he places us in the body of Christ.

            And don’t forget, of utmost importance is Colossians 3:10 where Paul speaks of our union with Christ. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him…

            And—the new and living way—Hebrews 10:19-20. The writer speaks of believer worship here as we enter the holiest. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…

            Can it be that there is more? Indeed. Because of the new life, the new and living way, the new man, God’s new mercies, there is yet more to come. But, you say, we already have all things new in Christ.

            John the Revelator gives us the long list of additional new things—more of God’s dimensional love and grace, only lavished upon His people—those who have trusted Him to give new life, to make the new man, to show forth new mercies morning by morning.

            When do these other new things take place? Let’s make a list, but only in a nutshell do we describe the coming events. A list is easier to understand, but you will need to study the entire book of The Revelation for proper perspective.

• The Bride of Christ disappears. (Don’t worry, Christ knows where we are and the Apostle Paul declares in II Thessalonians that we shall EVER be with the Lord.)
• Seven years of Tribulation is unleashed upon the earth, after which… (Begin reading in Revelation 4) …
• Christ appears in his glory, visibly, with his saints—you, me, all who are saved—and He fights the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19).
• The millennial kingdom is ushered in, the one thousand year reign of Christ upon the earth (Revelation 20:6). Satan is bound for that thousand-year period.
• Next, Satan is loosed for a season and the Battle of Gog and Magog occurs (Revelation 20).
• Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
• The Great White Throne Judgment occurs (Revelation 20:11-15).
• Death, hell, and those not found in the book of life are cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14-15).

            Ah, at long last, the new things promised in Revelation 21 and 22! Shall we do another list of these important events, these new experiences promised to those of us who belong to Him through the blood of Christ? Here they are:

• a new heaven (v.1)
• a new earth (v.1)
• the new Jerusalem (v.2)
• a new people (v.4)
• all things new (v.5)
• a new temple (v.22)
• a new Paradise (Revelation 22:1)

            Doubtless, there is much that we do not understand, much that is left only to the design of an omniscient God who knows the beginning from the end. He will reveal those things to us in due time. Until then, we have sufficient scripture to understand full and free salvation, daily godly living, and a hope of those new things to come at some future time of His knowledge and choosing.

            Behold, I come quickly (Revelation 22:7a).

Victor W. Baugh, Sr., Th.D., Ph.D.
Pastor, St. Luke AME Church

Havana, AL
http://www.thatgracemayabound.blogspot.com/
Author THE ANCHOR HOLDS, VICTOR'S STORY