All Things New

Growing up, our house hosted many celebrations through the years. Whether it was Thanksgiving, Noche Buena, or birthdays (there were six of us kids), the driveway and front lawn would be filled with cars driven by aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. A table would always be setup for dominoes, and a feast for the ages would be enjoyed by all.

I remember being extremely upset at one of these celebrations sometime during my grade school years. I was standing with several of my older siblings (who were high school age and beyond) by the front door. I somehow came to the realization that I didn’t want to get older. I liked being a little kid. I tearfully confessed this to my sisters who then shared with me that even THEY weren’t able to sit with the grown-ups yet. That began to put things in perspective for me.

When people look back and try to sort out their lives, we sometimes hit an impasse. What we remember is not always what really happened. Some of us believe we had idyllic childhoods while others continue to dredge through the pain of the past, not allowing old wounds to heal. And we all have questions we’d like answered.

The reason many of us may cherish happy childhood memories is that they remind us of when life was simpler and innocent. A time when most of our needs were met. A time when life seemed slower.

I understand that many people had a hellacious upbringing and have great difficulty looking back in the past to identify a baseline; when everything was right with the world. Let me correct this; when everything SEEMED right in the world.

How are things SUPPOSED to be? Is there a time and place you can look back to where life seemed to be at its vibrant best?

How is this world supposed to be? What were God’s intentions from the beginning?

Followers of Jesus believe that although our self-centered actions separated us from God, His death and resurrection paved a new way to live. Not as dogma and rules, but as a living, breathing, pulsating relationship with God.

A relationship built on trust and dependence on a heavenly Father who is perfect.

Is it any wonder that Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”? (Matthew 19:14)

God is in the process of making all things new.


Part Three of our Vision
All Things New
We stand for truth. The Truth that shouted “It is finished!” and passed into death, only to reclaim life three days later. We believe that because of the Cross, and only because of the Cross, broken people like us can reconnect with God. And we believe that this reconnection is only the beginning of true life. God is making all things new. We believe that God’s vision of heaven, a kingdom of reconnection and restoration, starts here and will one day culminate with the return of Jesus. Everything will be restored to the way things were created to be. That longing in our hearts that something just isn’t right in this world will vanish along with death, pain, sorrow, and isolation.


Related Verses
Revelations 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Matthew 18:1-6
About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

NLTse