All Things New

"He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:5)

I spent yesterday, as I have for the last 20 years, in Cincinnati for the Opening Day of baseball.  Few cities do Opening Day like Cincinnati does.  Proud of being the birthplace of professional baseball, the city takes an "unofficial" day off to make it a day of celebration.  I grew up thinking every city does this, but then I discovered that many virtually ignore Opening Day of their home town teams.

So certainly I go for the celebration. I go because it's something my son and I have done together for the last 20 years. With ever changing lives and schedules, times like these become more precious. And I go because, to be honest, I like baseball and have followed the Cincinnati Reds since - well I can't remember when I didn't follow them.

But there is another reason why I enjoy Opening Day.  On Opening Day, the past doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter how bad a year you had last year or what mistakes you made.  On Opening Day, everybody starts at the beginning again. It's a new year and everyone has a chance (except probably the Chicago Cubs).

This year, Opening Day was the day after Easter. As I sat in the stands, it occurred to me that the message for both have some similarities. Both are about a new beginning. Both are about new possibilities, another chance.

Well sort of. Let's be honest. We know not every team has a chance. The past does matter. If you had a bad year last year, you might make the same mistakes this year. Injures pile up.  Rarely does a bad team simply magically get better. Oh we can have high hopes, but deep down we know what the reality is.

But that's not the case with Easter. Easter is not about high hopes or well wishes. It's about an incredible reality. Jesus rose from the dead. On that first Easter morning Jesus gained victory over sin and death. How tragic if the story of Jesus ended on Good Friday. Just another martyr killed for "bucking the system."  I doubt anyone would have remembered Him really. After all, when he died, he only had 12 followers and they all abandoned Him.

No, what makes the difference is that on Easter Jesus rose from the dead. And the tomb remains empty today. It is just as much Easter on the Monday or Tuesday after Easter as it is that Sunday. And because He rose from the dead, Jesus offers that victory to all of us. In the Scripture above we hear Jesus on the throne of Heaven proclaiming "I make all things new."

Did you hear it? ALL THINGS. That means you and me. Your past can be overcome. The sins of your past do not have to be the sins of today. The mistakes of your past need not be the mistakes of today or your future. Your attitude about your work, your interpersonal relationships, your fears, whatever is troubling you, can be changed, can be made new.

That's why we celebrate Easter. I pray you are still celebrating Easter. Not with nice clothing or eating more chocolate. But by allowing Jesus to make all things new in your life.  It's a new day, a new season.  Will you allow Jesus to make all things new in your life?

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><