All Things New.

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave
It was You
You intoduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You

You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and restore

This is a new year...well it has been for a few weeks now, but I'm just now getting around to writing about it. As every new year dawns, I can't help but think about the renewal that God affords to us every new morning. He gives us the unfathomable gift of life...displayed every moment of every day...realized every single time we beg for God's gift of grace whenever we lose sight of His face for even a split second...bestowed upon us every time we do something that deserves the punishment of death...because that is what we deserve. If we fought for our rights, we'd be in hell tonight. Yes, it is a song lyric, but it is so very true. And every time I think of that truth, I become so much more indebted and grateful to my Almighty LORD and Savior!

Laugh if you like, but I was thinking of this when everyone was coming back from break. It seems like everyone received a new coat or pair of shoes or phone or jeans for Christmas. And when they come back to school, those things become a part of their lives...so much so that if you ask them 6 months later, they will probably say that they can't remember not having that pair of jeans and they can't imagine not having them. (Simple example, I know). To a much greater extent, when we receive Christ into our hearts and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, if we were to be asked even a week later, we would all say that we can't imagine not having the Advocate.

God makes all things new. He takes the broken and wretched sinner who comes to know that they are in desperate need of the Savior and He completely transforms their life until they are blameless in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith (Romans 1:17)...and it is manifested in the justification and sanctification that emerges in the life of the believer and completely changes them. It is miraculous to hear peoples' testimonies and be able to visually see where God has brought them from and how He has changed their lives completely. He never ceases to do that...all it takes is a willing heart.

And when He makes something new, He always attaches a promise right along with it...He says "You are mine now. The enemy can't touch you. You have been redeemed. You are new. That person you were before is gone. I will never leave your side." I have known this for a long, long time...but in the past few weeks, I have been thinking more and understanding more about promises. When a Godly man prayerfully gives a Godly woman a ring to symbolize his promise to her that they will soon be a Godly husband and wife, he is echoing what Christ has done with the church...just as he is commanded to in Ephesians 5:25. As the earthly husband promises to be there for better or for worse, he is mirroring what God our Husband (Hosea 2:16) has been doing for us ever since He created us: promising to never leave or forsake us! When a marriage is based upon that understanding, I am convinced that it can only ever be pleasing and glorifying to God!