Jesus makes all things new

“Need a fresh start? Jesus makes all things new.”

This message has been on our church’s sign for a couple of weeks now, and I have to say, I love this truth. I mean, who doesn’t need a fresh start from time to time? Who doesn’t wish once in a while that you could have a do-over? We all make mistakes. We all say things we wish we could unsay and do things we wish we’d never done. 

Is a fresh start even possible? 

Or maybe you need more than a fresh start. You need a complete overhaul. Life just hasn’t turned out the way you thought it would. You’ve made your fair share of bad decisions, you’ve had some things that didn’t go your way, or perhaps you’ve been a victim of horrible circumstances beyond your control. You might even be living a nightmare and simply wish you could wake up and things would be all better. 

You wonder sometimes how things could possibly get worse, but do you believe things could possibly get better? 

Dear friend, no matter what has come your way, no matter what mistakes you’ve made, no matter what troubles and turmoil you may be going through, Jesus makes all things new. And with Jesus all things are possible. 

Can you imagine a life with no tears, no pain, no sorrow and no death? Can you envision living in a place where there is no such thing as sin? Where there are no shootings to report on the evening news? No plane crashes, no Muslim terrorist attacks, no Planned Parenthood abortions? No child abuse, no starving children, no homeless families? No lying tongues, no e-mail scandals, no political campaigns? No racial hatred, no arrogance, no greed, no bitterness, no obscenities. No arthritis, no dementia, no heart disease, no cancer? 

Can you imagine a life with filled with only love and kindness and joy and peace? 

I can. I can see it as clearly as I can see the sun that Jesus makes all things new. New life. New purpose. New hope. New joy. I can see it by faith and know that day is coming. 

One of the most beautiful and glorious pictures painted for us in the Scriptures is found near the very end of Revelation. It’s a scene that reveals a new heaven and a new earth, where the former things are truly things of the past. The first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and with it the curse of sin and suffering that has infected mankind with all kinds of pain and sorrow, tragedy and death. 

And there’s a description of the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. In this place God chooses to make His dwelling place among men, to live among His very own people – those who belong to Him through Jesus Christ. 

And in this place there’s no need of the sun or the moon, for the glory of God gives it light, and the lamp is the Lamb – Christ Jesus. There is no darkness there. No more night. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Friend, there is hope for you because Jesus makes all things new. And He will begin the work of making you into a new creation the moment you yield Him your heart. Repent of your sin and believe in Jesus for salvation. He’ll ink your name into His book of life, and you’ll start walking in newness of life. 

The message on our sign at the corner of Sangamon and 7th might change, but know that the Word of the Lord stands forever. Fresh starts start now.