Old and New

(Rev. 21:5, Luke 9:51-56, 2 Cor. 3:4-18)

“Behold I make all things new,” says the One who sits on the throne.  Those are words Jesus Christ spoke to John when he was still in exile on Patmos.  John’s new thing would include release from the island and more peaceful days in Ephesus.  At that moment did he even think he might be released?  Tradition tells us he lived with Mary in a house in Ephesus, fulfilling one of his commissions from the Lord, to care for her.  Simply being present can be a powerful expression of love.  So John was present with Mary.

We do well to stop and think about the real context of Jesus’ days upon the earth, rather than only our theological concepts.  Jesus days were real, they were raw.  For many of us, our walk with Him has been so.  We should be grateful for those who have grown up in godly atmospheres and choose to serve His people.  They step into the raw and help clean up messes.  If we walk in compassion as Jesus did, we are positioned to participate to truly help.  The greatest help comes in cooperation with the Spirit.  By the Spirit, Christ Jesus, enters the scene through one of His own and makes something raw, new and beautiful.  We may find that the most beautiful expressions of love can look very raw.  Think of the cross.

We are learning to live and walk and serve by the Spirit.  Ministering a healing, a miracle, is an example of serving.  When we think we have done a work of power, may the Lord humble us so we let go of the glory.  We see works of power, healings done through Elijah and Elisha.  Other prophets were mainly messengers.  I appreciate messages and songs that note the power displayed through Elijah and honor the spirit of Elijah.  Yet, I want to be filled with the Spirit of Christ.  I would never speak critically of Elijah.  He was an awesome man of God.  The disciples referred to him when they were ready to call down fire on a city that did not receive Jesus.  Our Lord Jesus responded that they did not know what spirit they were of.  He came to save lives, to make all things new not to destroy.

We tend to wander back into the law and prophets but they cannot bring life or make things new.  Of course, we find a revelation of Christ in the law and prophets.  However, the new covenant has replaced, and is replacing, the old.  Nothing new and life giving is found in it.  It points us to Christ Jesus who is the life giver.  The law itself, written in stone, is a minister of death.  It shows us we are dead and need a savior, One who gives us never ending life, by the Spirit.  We need to press into Him, alone.  Paul waits to be executed and writes to the Philippians that he has suffered the loss of all things regarding his natural and religious life.  He looks to be found in Christ having no (that means zero) righteousness of his own, which is from the law.  By this he means the entire law.  I have read the law, that which Moses wrote or dictated to scribes.  It all moves us to the One, to Christ Jesus, in whom all righteousness is fulfilled.  He summed it all in loving one another, preferring one another.  Who loves like Jesus loves?

Love is the fulfillment of the law.  The law drives us to the throne of grace where we find mercy and grace.  It is His life in us that enables us to love.  May we increase in love.  Pursue love and earnestly desire, seek after spiritual gifts.  Those gifts are the impartations of the Spirit of Christ.  The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the author of every new thing.  He is the Creator.  He is the life giver.  He is the teacher of all truth.  He brings to mind the words of Christ and reveals Him in greater and greater measure.  Then newness will spring forth from our innermost beings.  Then we are changed.  The new comes and old things pass away.  They will be remembered no more.  That is the victory, the life that God has promised and gives.  Receive His grace today.