Newness

Matthew 5:17 - "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."

We have the Old Testament and the New. God covenanted with the Old Testament peoples. When things didn't work quite according to His plan He brought Christ. A new covenant was formed. In Christ all things are made new. A new testament that brought a  new testimony.

I'm amazed, as so often I am, that the people of the time of Moses, of the Exodus, of the time of release from captivity and a time of seeing God's miracles right before them, of His provision each day, didn't get it. It amazes me that even today sometimes we don't get it. 

Everything we have we owe to God. He has given us life. We are here for such a time as this, like Esther was for her people. We were born for these days. Perhaps it's like a test...will we choose to believe in God or not; will we choose Him or the world? This is an exciting time for those who see what is happening in this world. We are privileged to be discerners of the truth, despite the bitterness of it. We see these things because we also were made new. We see that in Christ we know the glorious ending that the world sees as possible disaster. I relish His return...

If you are reading this, you know that God has given you a physical life, but we are asked to partake of a better, newer life, in and through Christ. Jesus calls us to a new life and if we are willing to receive that life, there is a whole new world, which I've mentioned before. I seem to always end up on the same topic...being in Christ. Is there anything else of importance?

When we receive Christ we have that new life. The religious leaders during Jesus' day couldn't handle this new stuff. Aren't we a people who don't like change?? We can be so settled in the way things are. Like those in the days of Moses, they questioned His authority even though they were amazed (see, others were amazed, too) that without formal training like they had, He knew so much and spoke with a wisdom they could only dream about...how with all the training they had they could not speak with this same authority. Who was this Man? What power did He have?

They as much as admitted this in Mark 1:22,27 and 2:7: And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 

It was why they longed to kill Him. They didn't see Him as the Son of God. He was a threat to their ritualistic way of (Old Testament) life and the control they had over others. Some of our churches today attempt to do the same. They only are qualified to speak on behalf of God instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to speak God's Word through them. He, in some way today, is still a threat to them and their power. It was also why Christ came to earth, to die, not at the hands of these men, but because of our sins. Those men then couldn't kill Him because He chose to die. As He was a New Testament for mankind, we would become new, through Him. He and only He would be able to forgive us of our sins.

Who are we to think we are better or smarter than the Lord? Who is any man? Who is any minister in any denomination? It's all about Jesus. He is God and He is the only Way, Truth and Life. No one goes to the Father except by Him. He is the new way of life. In Christ we are made new.

Revelation 21 is a perfect example of all the things Christ promises us once we have received Him. It's not only for the future, it's for now. Although we might still go through difficult days on earth, as some can relate, underneath it all there should be an interesting and powerful sense of peace. Why? We do not fear what man can do to us nor do we fear death because Christ has conquered everything! Please read the link to the chapter. It is so very wonderful and can be an encouragement.

It's like our life before Christ is our Old Testament. We strive to do good to please God, if we believe He exists. We live according to our own desires when God wants nothing more than for us to worship Him that He might be our God. He tells us this is what He wants to do: [I want to do] a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? [I want to make] a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland (Isaiah 43:19). Do you see? He wants to do a new thing. He wants to do... He wants... He... 

But we don't get it. We want to believe it's all about us and what we can do. Then one day we meet Jesus face to face and our world changes, hopefully. Our hearts are made new and along with that God's Spirit shows us and guides us into all things new: Ezekiel 36:26 - I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you... The world is different and new. We see a glimpse of heaven on earth because Christ now lives with us. We realize it's not about us, but about a Father in Heaven who gave His only Son to die for us.

In the Old Testament the people worshiped and sacrificed at the Temple. In the New, with and in Christ, we ARE the temple because Christ resides in us. We can sacrifice and worship anywhere, even within our own heart. If none of this makes sense, you need Jesus...to show you these things...you are still in the world and He wants to take you out of the old world and bring you into His new world that He might reside in you.

Christ was in the beginning and is now. He created the earth and all things in it. He created you, that you might receive Him. He will also be at the end of the world. And if you are in Christ, He will take you to His new home. His glory will be the Light that shines in this new world and new home. And if we are with Him then we will see His glory! 

Without Christ none of this can happen, either now or in the last days. If you aren't sure what this all means, ask Him to show you. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. If you are sincere in your heart He will do just that. He will give you a peace you've never experienced. He will also frustrate you when you see others who do not share in this new life. You will wonder why others don't choose to believe in Him, who don't choose to have their name written in Christ's, the Lamb's, Book of Life.

Revelation 21:27 - But there shall by no means enter it [the New Jerusalem; the new world] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only