“I am Making Everything New”
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21: 1 - 6 (NIV)
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 said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Message: “I am Making Everything New”
The Creator God is active, in the present and in the future
The story of the Bible starts by telling us about the Creator God
Genesis paints the picture of who this Creator God is and of how this Creator God is at work, creating
Genesis 1 tells the story of a God who creates through word - the God who speaks creation into being
Genesis 2 tells the story of a God who creates through dust and breathes life into his creation
It is one of the central characteristics of who our God is: God is the Creator God
And part of this God’s creation plan was always to create us, human beings, as the crown of his creation
God created the crown of his creation with the gift of free will (let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that we are here today of our own free will)
But through our own free will, we made many mistakes - reminding us that we still need the Creator God
The Creator God sent his Son to remind us that we are not left to fend for ourselves (because by ourselves, we will never make it)
And it is striking to see how Jesus resembles the Creator God through his life
Think of the dust and how Jesus healed a blind man through mixing dust with his saliva to make a blind man see
Think of how Jesus breathed across his disciples, telling them to receive the Holy Spirit
Think of Jesus’ last words to his disciples with the great commission - go and create - continue on with the work of the Creator God
And today we read where the Bible ends with telling us that this Creator God is still at work in the present and that this creator God will still be at work in the future
We need our God to continue his work of creating
We are comforted by the story of the Bible ending, telling us that the Creator God has not left us to fend for ourselves
This Creator God is creating a new heaven and a new earth - essentially telling that He is still forming and shaping his creation
This Creator God is creating a new Jerusalem - a whole new city as the symbol of his presence in our lives
This Creator God is at work to bring an end to death and suffering
And this Creator God is telling us today - Take heart, I am making everything new.”
“I am not done with you.”
“I am the alpha and the omega.” (First and last letters of the Greek alphabet)
God doing something new in my life?
In this season of spring, with green sprouting all around us, God is remining us today that He is making everything new
What does that look like in your life?
What is God doing in your life right now?
In what way are you part of a new heaven and a new earth?
When you hear about a new Jerusalem, in what way are you experiencing God presence in your life?
What is happening with the pain I am feeling in my life right now? The physical and emotional…
What happens with my tears?
Whatever is happening in your life right now, God is telling you today: “I am making everything new.”
It is my prayer that you will receive the revelation of the Creator God saying: “I am making everything new” today
The whole book of Revelation was written to bring hope for believers amidst their suffering
How do I respond to God doing something new?
Hearing the Creator God saying “I am making everything new” will prompt a response in our lives
From a position of pain, we can easily resent God
And if you are stuck in your mind being overwhelmed by your circumstances, it will be hard to see God doing something new in your life
But the reason for you hearing about a creator God making everything new is to help you to see a wider context
God is not done with you
God has not left you alone
God is involved in your life
God is helping with your tears
God is carrying you when you suffer
God is giving you vision when you are uncertain
God is giving you hope when you feel depressed
The Creator God is still creating in your life!
And it is personal - the Creator God is saying to you today in your life: “I am making everything new!”
AMEN
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