All Things New
January 1, 2013.

"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" (Revelation 21:5).

The coming of a new year is a good time to consider that glorious time to come when Christ will make everything new again. In the present age, all things "shall wax old as doth a garment" (Hebrews 1:11) under the bondage of the universal law of decay and death; indeed "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22).

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). There, in the "new Jerusalem," we shall each have "a new name" and sing "a new song" (Revelation 21:2; 2:17; 5:9). We shall have new bodies, "fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21), and a new dwelling place, prepared by Christ Himself among the "many mansions" in His "Father's house" (John 14:2).

And all the old and dying things will be completely and forever gone. "There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10).

What a "Happy New Year" that will be! In the meantime, we have His "new covenant" and have each been made "a new creature" in Christ (Hebrews 12:24; Galatians 6:15). Since all His words "are true and faithful," we know His promises are sure. Therefore, already, "old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" through faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). HMM

For more . . . .

The Earth Made New Again
January 5, 2013.

"And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever" (Psalm 78:69).

There are a number of passages in the Bible which state unequivocally that the earth, in some form, is going to continue eternally. "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

However, this present earth and its atmospheric heavens must first be purged of all the age-long effects of sin and the curse, which now affect the very elements (or "dust of the earth" ). Therefore, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).

Evidently, this fiery cataclysm is not an annihilation of the earth and its atmosphere, but rather a great exchange of energies. The earth's very elements will probably be converted into sound and heat energies by mass-energy nuclear-conversion processes, in order to burn out the great fossil beds and all other relics of sin and the curse. Then, however, God will reverse the process, converting these and other energies back into matter, thus "renewing" the primeval earth, which originally had been "very good" (Genesis 1:31). "We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).

It is this new earth (that is, the earth made new) which will then continue forever. "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain" (Isaiah 66:22). "Because the |creation| itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:21). Then we shall forever "be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). HMM

For more . . . .

Daily Manna

A New Realm.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013

TEXT: REVELATION 22:1-8

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Revelation 22:1).

In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps, the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus, their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."

Having seen the holy city, John is now shown, by the angel, the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. The river reflects the crystal-like quality of the city itself or of the glassy "sea" in front of the throne in John’s first vision of heaven (Revelation 4:6). The river’s centrality to the city as a whole and its visibility to all residents are emphasised.

A common question people ask is: ‘What will heaven be like?’ The Bible really doesn’t go into specifics about heaven. This is because "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Our minds simply cannot comprehend the glory that awaits us. But while it’s true that we don’t know the details about heaven, the Scripture does give us a general idea. What we discover is absolutely mind-blowing! The city functions clearly beyond the limits of our planet earth.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, heaven beckons on as many as are willing to come on board and explore the breath-taking glory of an endless life with Christ. Take that daunting step of total yieldedness to Christ today and begin a life filled with glory and virtue.

Thought for today: Life on earth would be empty if there is nothing after it"[/size]