“I am making all things new”

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.”
Revelation 21:3-5

It’s the first day of a new year. We always fill our New Years with hope of new beginnings. We make resolutions - whether it’s to get fit or take up a new hobby; give up unhealthy patterns or to see our loved ones more.  We have hopes for the world: hopes for a greener, fairer and healthier world.  This year’s televised countdown and fireworks featured a poem that encapsulated this common hope across our nation and galvanised us to come together to make that change. 

However, over 50% of New Years Resolutions are not kept.  Many of us (and I count myself among them), set unrealistic expectations, give up once we lose a winning streak, or simply forget or find other things taking our priorities. It is very difficult to make changes to our lives through willpower alone and although small changes to our lives are nearly always possible, the total renewal and rejuvenation of our bodies, minds and souls that many of us long remains a pipe dream.

And our hopes for a better year are not always fulfilled. 2019 was a difficult year for us. I had a miscarriage and a period of hospitalisation due to ill health. My wider family was still coming to terms with bereavement from late 2018 and later in the year I was having an exhausting pregnancy. But as my baby son was born just before Christmas, we felt a sense of hope. 2020 would be better.   We had no idea a global pandemic was on its way!

The hope we may have each year - for ourselves, our loved ones, and our world - may range from a tentative wish to hope that is based on our own determination to change and/or the positive signs we see in the world.  There are many - on a national level, many of them were cited in the New Years poem - vaccines, philanthropy and COP 26. But none of these are a certain hope.  

But what if there was a certain hope of renewal?  For the Christian, there is!  God promises it to us, through his revelation to John on the island of Patmos nearly 2000 years ago, as well as through every page of his inspired Word.  The God who sometimes seems so far away will be with his people, there will be no more mourning, sickness or death.  We rang in the New Year last night, but when Jesus returns in all his glory we will will ring in a whole new cosmic order.

And yet there’s more - the exciting-yet-mind-bending thing about the Christian life is that renewal is already here in our souls.  We may not yet feel it as we struggle with being in the world, but as Paul teaches: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  2 Corinthians 5:17. 

We’re currently in the depths of winter - nothing is growing, the leaves on the trees are still bare and the nights are long.  And yet the solstice has passed - we know that the days will get longer over the months ahead, the weather warmer, we will start to see signs of life, and eventually we will gather in the harvest.  We cannot hasten spring, but trust it will come in God’s perfect timing.  It is the same with our hearts.  We cannot expect change to come all at once - and especially not just because it’s January 1st.  But we trust that God will do his work in his own perfect time.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with making a New Year’s Resolution. Personally I’m determined to spend more time in God’s word this year, using this blog as a motivation and accountability for the days when I don’t feel like it.  We should strive to know Jesus more, and just as we need to diligently work at our human relationships - often setting aside time to invest in them - so we should in our walk with God. As Paul says: 

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:12-14). 

But there is a hope of renewal that runs far deeper than our personal and collective resolutions. God promises to make everything new. We can, as Paul charged the Christians in Philippi, strive to take hold of this hope with all our hearts, but it is Jesus that is the source of this hope. 

Hope is not found in meeting our goals for health, fitness, achievements or even personal relationships - although these were all good things God designed us to enjoy and cultivate. It is found in the promises of God.  

So, as is the usual custom, I do wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  However, what I wish for you more is Hope for an eternity with the Lord Jesus, when he returns to make everything new - where there is no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Where there is no more Covid, poverty or environmental degradation. Where the scars of this life are not forgotten, but transformed and glorified like those of Jesus.