Bible Reading: Isaiah 43:16-19
This is what the Lord says, he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
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 wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Revelation 21:3-5
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, "Behold, I am making everything new!”
A Reflection
You can’t beat fresh fruit and veg from the garden. Whether it’s tomatoes, carrots, peas or new potatoes, if they are fresh from the garden they seem to have so much more flavour than those bought from the supermarket, whether they are fresh or processed.
A lot of Israel’s faith involved looking to the past, especially their deliverance from slavery in Egypt through the Red Sea. But here Isaiah is telling them not to dwell in the past, but to move on to the new things that God is doing. God is making a way through in wilderness through Jesus, who is the way back to God, and he is creating streams in the wasteland as he pours out his Holy Spirit on his people at Pentecost, as he still does today.
Our God is the God of new things. At the end of the book of Revelation God says, "Behold, I am making everything new!” Before that, throughout the New testament, we see the range of new things that Jesus brings. Jesus came to open up a new and living way to God and to bring a new covenant through his blood. He gave us a new commandment to love one another as he loves us. Through faith in Jesus in this life we have new birth, a new life, a new self, we become a new creation, and in God's new heaven and new earth there will be a new Jerusalem and we will have a new name.
God is be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, our creator God is still creating new things for you and me to enjoy. Let us discover them and rejoice in their freshness.
What new thing is God doing in your life at the moment?
Are there areas in your life or in your relationship with God where you need to forget the former things and move on to discover the new things that God is doing?
Pray:
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the new things that you are doing, and open my heart to embrace them.
Amen
Behold, behold, I make all things new
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