Thursday, January 2, 2014

All Things New

January 1-5, 2014 - All Things New – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Rev. 21:5 “And He that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.”

What were the new things that Jesus was referring to? John said, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem.” “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3). 

Our God will walk from the New Jerusalem into the new earth just like He used to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of evening. We all will finally see God face to face and God will walk with us. “He (you) that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his (your) God and he (you) will be my son (children).” (Rev. 21:7 KJV).

What about the people who rejected Christ? Where do they go if they are not invited to a new heaven and a new earth? Rev. 21:8 NLT tells this. “But cowards who turn away from Me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars—their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

The “cowards” are not those who are fainthearted in their faith or who sometimes doubt or question, but those who turn back from following God. The “cowards” are not brave enough to stand up for Christ. The “cowards” are not humble enough to accept His authority over their lives. The “cowards” are put in the same list as the unbelieving, the corrupt (change from good to bad), the murderers, the immoral (bad or evil), the idolaters (person who worship the idol), the liars, and those practicing magic arts. (Some notes are from other resources).

The overcomers are the opposite of cowards. All who are overcomers will inherit all these blessings that God promised: (1) eating from the tree of life, (2) escaping from the lake of fire (the “second death,”) (3) receiving a special name, (4) having authority over the nations, (5) being included in the Book of life, (6) being a pillar in God’s spiritual temple, and (7) sitting with Christ on His throne. [Ref. Mk. 13:13; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21].  Plus other rewards that Jesus promised (Rev. 22:12).

To me, it is exciting to hear Jesus’ word, “Behold, I make all things new.” It feels like a “fresh” beginning to trust God in all things in the year of 2014. God bless you.

Song: We Shall See the King
We shall see the King,
We shall see the King,
We shall see the King when He comes;
He is coming in power,
We’ll hail the blessed hour,
We shall see the King when He comes.
(James B. Vaughan, Sing His Praise)

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