| "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now then, we are
ambassadors for Christ." Today is Easter and Christ
makes all things new!
As I write these words in January, however, I look out my window and
the world does not look new. The grass is brown; there are no leaves on trees; on this day
clouds and rain make things dreary. Throughout the year there are those times and that
side of life where the world is anything but new. The world, and I in it, acts as old as
sin itself. It is a broken world, hurting, warring, hungering, rebelling, exploiting. All
things new?
Christ makes all things new! Everything is made new because Christ
Jesus came into the old, shouldering the weight of sin, bearing the burden of our
brokenness, dying away a condemnation meant for us. "For our sake God made him to be
sin who knew no sin ... (2 Corinthians 5:21)." In Holy Week we walk the way of
Christ’s suffering. Now is Christ risen! He has burst the three-day prison! Christ
makes all things new!
The world still looks mighty old and wearied at times. Eyes of
faith, however, now see all things new. In Christ the great reversal of the world has
begun, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding. Say with me: "my heart is new,
clean, bright and whole. My soul is fresh, radiant, and spirit-filled. I am a new
creation, a new (your name), and so are all our brothers and sisters in Christ. My sin is
forgiven and my death already conquered. In Christ, I am new creation." |
