All Things New part 1
Especially at this time of year we get all caught up with the idea of "new" don't we? "New year, new me." New Years resolutions. "This year is gonna be different. This is gonna be my year." And I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with that. I think God allows--and encourages--U-turns. And if you need the turning of the calendar to motivate you... ok. Whatever works, right? But that's kind of the problem. Because it never seems to actually work. Because we're trying to do it ourselves. And works and labor don't work. Never have, never will. Look at Revelation 21:5, "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." This is my verse for this Rant series, and for the new year. So let's spend some time and really dig into it. Really unravel it. And first things first, I believe the entire book of Revelation--the revelation of Jesus Christ--is an in-depth look at the cross. I've heard people say Revelation is about what's going to happen. But I believe the work is finished. We don't need a move of God. God already moved 2,000 years ago. We need a revelation of Jesus. So that we can understand what the move of God--the cross--was, and what it means for us right now. Ok. So. The One of the throne said HE makes all things new. I really think that's enough to focus on for today. Because when we get in trouble trying to turn over a new leaf... what we need to do is understand that GOD got us into a whole new TREE. The fig tree--the tree of knowledge of good and evil--couldn't produce any fruit, so Jesus cursed it. So whereas in the garden of Eden there were two trees of note, in the New Jerusalem there was only one. Only the Tree of Life. And if you've followed my Rantings for any amount of time you know what the fruit of the Tree of Life is; the fruit of the Spirit. Love. Love is what CHANGED us, and love is what reveals the change that took place TO us. And in us. And through us. And as us. Again--it's not something WE could do. And not something we were expected to do. When the PEOPLE wanted a Law, God gave it to them. But not so that they could try to keep it and in that way earn something that can't be earned. "...the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). You can't earn a gift. Only by knowing and believing that you've been given a gift can you receive and release it. Can you enjoy it. And that gift of God was eternal life. Jesus gave His life FOR us, but He also gave His life TO us. Because He wanted us to have it. He wanted us to be able to partake of the Divine Nature. To experience His life as He lives it in us, and through us, and as us. So HE did all the work. We couldn't do it, but He still wanted us to have it. He finished the work so that we could enjoy the fruit of HIS labor. Again, the fruit of the Spirit. Again, love. So if WE are trying to make something happen on our own... it's doomed to fail. But if we understand that HE has made all things new, then all we have to do is let Him reveal Himself (I'll say it one more time) to us, and in us, and through us, and as us! We don't need to "make" changes. We need to SEE changes. Changes that have already taken place, and are manifesting right before our eyes!