God Makes All Things New!
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:18-19)."
With the new year comes new resolutions, hope for a year better than the previous one and change. Change is inevitable. We grow older. We may move to another location. We may encounter sickness. Our profession may change or our relationships may change. Through all of the change however, there is One who remains the same, and that is Jesus. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)." He is the glue, if you will, that holds it all together. He is the One who will never leave nor forsake you-in your times of crisis, in your failing health, in your new job, in your sin, in your darkest place, in your failures and in each one of your daily activities. Because of Jesus, you and I have a hope that is not dependent on our circumstances. It is a hope that is grounded in who Jesus is and in His finished work.
As you reflect on your past, don't stay there. The past is behind you and you cannot do anything to change it. Learn from it. Grow from it. Look ahead to your future, because the best is yet to come! Jesus has come to give you new life. This new life does not stop once you are saved, rather it is an ongoing transformation of making you and me more like Him. Sure, the moment you cried out to the Lord He saved you-and nothing can ever change that. His purpose for you is that you grow in the knowledge of Him and allow Him to live in and through you, showing others the love of Christ and by His Spirit, that they would come to saving faith in Christ.
It is not about you. It's not about me. It's not about our prayers being answered the way we would like. It's not about having a good job making lots of money. It's not about the house you live in or the car you drive. It's not about getting married or having a family. While all of these are good things in themselves, it is about Jesus-knowing Him and making Him known. Friend, that is why you and I are still here, to bring glory to the One who is worthy and to share the gospel with a hurting and lost world. At the end of our lives, the only thing that will matter is do we know Jesus? Our life is a gift from our Creator. Each day we wake up we have a choice, to serve Him and follow Him or chase after our own desires. If we choose the latter, we will continue to be frustrated, disappointed and empty because God has set eternity in each of our hearts, and until we come to know Him, we will never be truly satisfied. Jesus is the only one who can fill us, not stuff, not drugs, not alcohol, not people, not position or wealth-only Jesus!
So, while it is good to reflect on the past, it is time now to focus on your relationship with Jesus. If you know Him, allow Him to mold you, to shape you into becoming more and more like Him. Allow Him to have His way in you. Freedom comes with surrender. Surrender to His will. His will is always good, perfect and pleasing. His way is always good, hard sometimes, but always good. Nothing that you will ever go through here on earth can compare to seeing Jesus face to face and being with Him forever and ever. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)."
If you don't know Him, or aren't sure if you are saved, ask His Spirit to show you if you truly belong to Him. If so, His Spirit will testify with your spirit that you are His. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory (Romans 8:16-17)." Friend, all you have to do is come to Him! It doesn't matter what you have done...He is waiting for you with open arms to welcome you into His kingdom!
Our God is awesome!
"To Him who loved us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father-to Him be the glory for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:5-6)."
With the new year comes new resolutions, hope for a year better than the previous one and change. Change is inevitable. We grow older. We may move to another location. We may encounter sickness. Our profession may change or our relationships may change. Through all of the change however, there is One who remains the same, and that is Jesus. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)." He is the glue, if you will, that holds it all together. He is the One who will never leave nor forsake you-in your times of crisis, in your failing health, in your new job, in your sin, in your darkest place, in your failures and in each one of your daily activities. Because of Jesus, you and I have a hope that is not dependent on our circumstances. It is a hope that is grounded in who Jesus is and in His finished work.
As you reflect on your past, don't stay there. The past is behind you and you cannot do anything to change it. Learn from it. Grow from it. Look ahead to your future, because the best is yet to come! Jesus has come to give you new life. This new life does not stop once you are saved, rather it is an ongoing transformation of making you and me more like Him. Sure, the moment you cried out to the Lord He saved you-and nothing can ever change that. His purpose for you is that you grow in the knowledge of Him and allow Him to live in and through you, showing others the love of Christ and by His Spirit, that they would come to saving faith in Christ.
It is not about you. It's not about me. It's not about our prayers being answered the way we would like. It's not about having a good job making lots of money. It's not about the house you live in or the car you drive. It's not about getting married or having a family. While all of these are good things in themselves, it is about Jesus-knowing Him and making Him known. Friend, that is why you and I are still here, to bring glory to the One who is worthy and to share the gospel with a hurting and lost world. At the end of our lives, the only thing that will matter is do we know Jesus? Our life is a gift from our Creator. Each day we wake up we have a choice, to serve Him and follow Him or chase after our own desires. If we choose the latter, we will continue to be frustrated, disappointed and empty because God has set eternity in each of our hearts, and until we come to know Him, we will never be truly satisfied. Jesus is the only one who can fill us, not stuff, not drugs, not alcohol, not people, not position or wealth-only Jesus!
So, while it is good to reflect on the past, it is time now to focus on your relationship with Jesus. If you know Him, allow Him to mold you, to shape you into becoming more and more like Him. Allow Him to have His way in you. Freedom comes with surrender. Surrender to His will. His will is always good, perfect and pleasing. His way is always good, hard sometimes, but always good. Nothing that you will ever go through here on earth can compare to seeing Jesus face to face and being with Him forever and ever. "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18)."
If you don't know Him, or aren't sure if you are saved, ask His Spirit to show you if you truly belong to Him. If so, His Spirit will testify with your spirit that you are His. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory (Romans 8:16-17)." Friend, all you have to do is come to Him! It doesn't matter what you have done...He is waiting for you with open arms to welcome you into His kingdom!
Our God is awesome!
"To Him who loved us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father-to Him be the glory for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:5-6)."
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