January 1-5, 2014 All
Things New – Manna by Dorothy Callies
Rev. 21:5 “And He
that sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.”
What were the new
things that Jesus was referring to? John said, “I saw a new heaven and a new
earth. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem.” “Behold, the tabernacle of God
is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God
Himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).
Our God will walk
from the New Jerusalem into the new earth just like He used to walk with Adam
and Eve in the cool of evening. We all will finally see God face to face and
God will walk with us. “He (you) that overcometh shall inherit all things; and
I will be his (your) God and he (you) will be my son (children).” (Rev. 21:7
KJV).
What about the people
who rejected Christ? Where do they go if they are not invited to a new heaven
and a new earth? Rev. 21:8 NLT tells this. “But cowards who turn away from Me,
and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who
practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars—their doom is in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
The “cowards” are not
those who are fainthearted in their faith or who sometimes doubt or question,
but those who turn back from following God. The “cowards” are not brave enough
to stand up for Christ. The “cowards” are not humble enough to accept His
authority over their lives. The “cowards” are put in the same list as the
unbelieving, the corrupt (change from good to bad), the murderers, the immoral
(bad or evil), the idolaters (person who worship the idol), the liars, and
those practicing magic arts. (Some notes are from other resources).
The overcomers are
the opposite of cowards. All who are overcomers will inherit all these
blessings that God promised: (1) eating from the tree of life, (2) escaping
from the lake of fire (the “second death,”) (3) receiving a special name, (4)
having authority over the nations, (5) being included in the Book of life, (6)
being a pillar in God’s spiritual temple, and (7) sitting with Christ on His
throne. [Ref.
Mk. 13:13; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21]. Plus other rewards that Jesus promised
(Rev. 22:12).
To me, it is exciting
to hear Jesus’ word, “Behold, I make all things new.” It feels like a “fresh”
beginning to trust God in all things in the year of 2014. God bless you.
Song: We Shall See
the King
We shall see the
King,
We shall see the
King,
We shall see the King
when He comes;
He is coming in
power,
We’ll hail the
blessed hour,
We shall see the King
when He comes.
(James B. Vaughan, Sing His Praise)
