Person-2-Person - June, 2019

After I wrote my last, post-Easter, Person-2-Person, our Pastor wrote to me, “It is the same story at MUMC, a similar celebration every year…and still there is the offer of new life, new work, new creation (invention). Thank you for the message!” Thank you, Pastor. I appreciate the kind words.

Naturally, I was encouraged to make “new life, new work, new creation” my theme this month. The Bible contains numerous references to making things new and to renewal. In one of the best known, the prophet Jeremiah passed by a potter’s shop and watched as the potter took a pot that had been ruined, and remade it (Jer. 18:1-11). The pot had become misshapen, useless, but the potter made it into something useful. Jeremiah realized that God could do the same with the nation of Israel as the potter had done with a lump of clay. And what God can do for nations like Israel, God is able to do for individual people like you and me (2 Cor. 5:17).

Isaiah wrote about “new heavens and a new earth,” a new act of creation (Isa. 65:17-18). Eight centuries later, the author of Revelation would write, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” (Rev. 21:1 NIV). The theme of God’s renewing power continues through the ages, across the centuries.

Paul makes it personal. Writing to the Romans, he says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2 NIV). God doesn’t simply renew the world around us, God wants to renew us, God’s people. Paul continues, writing to the Ephesians, encouraging them “. . . to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22a-24 NIV). These are just a few examples of God’s renewal throughout our faith history.

The words of Scripture echo down through the ages: “See, the former things have taken place, / and new things I declare;” (Isa. 42:9a NIV). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV). “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Rev. 21:5a NIV). Our God makes all things new, including us.

Every time Jesus said to someone, “Your sins are forgiven,” (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20, 7:48), it was the beginning of a new life for someone. His or her spiritual wounds could begin to heal. And just as God forgives, we are called to do the same (Matt. 6:12-15, 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 17:3-4; 2 Cor. 2:5-11). Our God continues to forgive, heal and renew, and God does this life-changing work through us.

Each year, Easter is the same, yet each year is different. Each Sunday is essentially the same, yet each is different. Each is filled with the promise of new life. Each is filled with new opportunities for new life, new work, and new creation. Each is filled with new opportunities for growth, new opportunities for service, and new opportunities to reach others for Christ. When our lives are ruined and misshapen, when we need a new mind and a new self, and our whole creation needs to be renewed, God can bring about a “new creation” in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
    and its people a joy.” (Isa. 65:17-18 NIV.)