All Things New

Pastor Ryan Binkley 

4 minute read

 

In business, a great marketing campaign comes with a great tagline. It’s something that’s supposed to be simple yet make a bold promise. Think about it. You see them all the time. Chick-Fil-A’s cows whimsically write “Eat Mor Chikin,” while Disney World is the “Happiest Place on Earth.” It looks great on a business card.

So, if you met Jesus today, what simple promise would He have on His business card?

 

Scripture is full of promises Jesus made. Some of my favorites include:

  • “Come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
  • “If you seek me, you will find me, knock and the door will open.”
  • “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
  • “Whoever comes to me, I will never drive away.”
  • “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

 

But for me, one promise stands clearly above the rest. It is the most hope-giving line in all of scripture. Jesus’ simple yet bold promise is found in Revelation 25:1:

 

“Behold I make all things new.”

 

That’s what makes Christianity so special. Nothing in this world can redefine broken families, heal terminal diseases, or provide during a famine. Our world is often a cruel place that doesn’t believe in unlimited chances for redemption. Yet through Christ, so long as there is breath in our lungs, redemption will always be possible.

With the new year, people often feel inspired to create resolutions for a “new you” to match the season. While I believe any day is a good day to adopt better habits, I understand the sentiment. In that spirit, I’m going to ride this wave of momentum to “new things” and pray for everyone at Create Church to experience three new things this year.

 

  1. New Righteousness  

Righteousness can easily be thought of as the ‘right way of living.’ Ellie can tell you, I don’t always get it right. My ‘righteousness’ has a very limited shelf life. The great thing about righteousness is that it’s not up to us. To have righteousness we don’t need right actions, but right beliefs. When Abraham had faith in God, Genesis tells us his faith “was credited to him as righteousness.” In God’s eyes our faith counts toward the righteousness that we fail to act out. We can all use a reminder to walk in this truth. Right ways of believing always lead to right ways of living. 

 

  1. New Joy

There have been enough headlines this past year to rob anyone of joy the future holds. Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said we’d see famine, wars, and the rumors of wars as a sign of the end times. Yet the 24-hour news cycle can’t change something very important to all of us. Jesus is still on the throne. He will return one day for a triumphant church. Nothing can stop His kingdom from advancing, and we all get to be a part of His story. True joy is not rooted in present circumstances. Look at the apostle Paul. He was jailed for spreading the Gospel, yet he wrote some of the most joyous books in the Bible (see the book of Philippians)! I’m praying your joy is not rooted in circumstance but in spirit and truth!

 

  1. New Peace 

The top three most common mental disorders are anxiety, depression, and PTSD. As pastor for Create, I know many of you struggle with these battles on different levels. I believe our generation is waking up to the fact that people are fundamentally unhealthy if they do not have peace. With leading a family, a church, and my businesses, I sometimes lack peace in my own life, but I remind myself that peace isn’t a principle. Peace is a person, Jesus. This year, I’m praying for new levels of peace in your life because of how much closer you are to your savior.

 

Jesus’ promise, “Behold, I make all things new,” counts for this new year. It also counts for this new month, this new week, this new day, this new second. He is building and shaping something inside of you for His glory! I close with this scripture:

 

“What makes for the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.”

Romans 14:17-18

 

May you be blessed this week.