“I Am Making All Things New”!
A friend recently asked me “If Jesus has come, as you claim, then why is this world in such an increasingly parlous state? It doesn’t reflect him as King of the Universe. This puzzles many. My thoughts . . . . .
Jesus made certain promises about His second coming with his disciples. He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the end of the Mosaic system, fulfilment of all prophecy, etc.
But He did NOT promise everything would be okay as a result of His coming.
He never said that when He came he would stay! The Greek word for coming (Parousia) used many times in the NT means presence or visit. It can be used of a king who comes to a city for certain reasons and business. Then the king soon returns back to his palace in the capital city.
Jesus did not come to rule the world but to save us. His kingdom is not of this world. He returned to the Father and glory.
He has left his people in the world empowered with the Holy Spirit. We are to be salt and light in the world. As a result this world is becoming gradually transformed from a terrible state after his first coming.
The world continues to be blessed even today, though evil yet abounds. We are to be so thankful to have heard the good news and have received the promised Holy Spirit and eternal life.
We are promised a new heaven and earth now! That has come. Please see my recent post here:
https://ianthomsonian.org/?s=New+heaven+and+earth
What happens to this world in God’s future plans?
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. (Rev 21: 4-6.)
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
Even in the midst of trouble, Jeremiah proclaims “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.
God will keep his promises: to restore peace and righteousness for ever. To perceive perfect peace and rightness in the world is hard to imagine. We cannot do this. We have to rely on the perfect Saviour to do that for us. And he has and he will.
Where in your life do you see God making all things new? Where in your life do you need Christ to intervene? What new things is he doing through Jesus now?
Paul wrote Behold, ALL things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). Really, right now?
“I make all things new” means that all the old things are being refreshed and made better, for believing people.
This is discussed extensively by Paul in 1 Cor 15:35-49. There he predicted the time when his believing audience will all receive new resurrected bodies—not from rotting corpses.
We are now living in the New Covenant. Though based on the old covenant, Mat 26:28, Luke 22:20. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
The Hebrews author wrote back then: When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Heb 8:13
Then there is the New Jerusalem. This new reality is described in Revelation 21-22 as a place without death, mourning, pain, or crying, where God will dwell with humanity, and the New Jerusalem will descend from heaven.
This new creation is a restored, physical reality where believers live in glorified, resurrected bodies, ruling with Christ. The promise of a new earth is rooted in God’s original purpose for creation, as seen in Genesis, where humanity was commanded to fill and subdue the earth, a task thwarted by sin but now fulfilled in the new creation. This is the eternal home where God’s people will dwell with Him, experiencing a dynamic, purposeful existence free from the curse and the presence of sin.
With the tragic killing of Charlie Kirk we can still see the hand of the Lord. Though the Lord is indeed sovereign, He respects the power of choice, the freewill of all humans. Justice will certainly come. For now we celebrate Charlie Kirk’s amazing life and the unstoppable spiritual power of his widow and the TP organisation as a result! So much good has already ensued. The good news preached to hundreds of thousands, maybe millions.
There are revivals of Christianity in many places especially among young men, including Britain, The USA. In Iran we know of multitudes are tuning to Christ.
Every day I hear reports of people turning to Christ.
People brainwashed with dispensational premillennial eschatology will keep on seeing tragedy. These brothers and sisters see the world as something that is getting worse and worse. Such folk long for the day that God will supposedly remove His people from a wicked, ever worsening world. There is little incentive for someone with that world view to work to redeem and renew the existing.
But in the Bible we read and see this world as God’s Plan.
That is a plan that Jesus, through His people, is making new. He is making the world new in spiritual terms, but also in temporal terms. The regions in the world with the most Christian influence also have seen the largest advances in standard of living. The primary cause for the advance is loving one’s neighbour.
Which world view do you have? Are you an escapist?
Or an optimist, filled with the spirit and power.
Paul wrote Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15:58.
Ian Thomson 