Old Things and New Things

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬ ‭

These words were written to a people who had nothing to celebrate in the year behind them and little to look forward to in the year in front of them. 

Isaiah was prophesying to those who would be captives in Babylon. Everything they had known and loved had been destroyed. Their country was gone. Their homes were gone. Their places of worship were gone. Their hope was gone. 

Kind of puts our problems from the past year in perspective!

And so it must have seemed crazy to them to read the words of Isaiah. What new thing could possibly happen now? How could they possibly find an oasis in their desert or a way out of their wilderness?

Their old pain was blinding them to the new promise of a Savior who would make away into a wonderful new future!

Several weeks ago, it was time to decorate our house for Christmas. I made my annual climb up into the attic to get down the boxes of decorations. While I was doing it, I noticed a very old suitcase in the corner and out of curiosity I opened it up. Inside were  things from my past  that I once counted important enough to save. A cross I used to wear as a new believer. An old necklace that I don’t even remember what it meant or why I wore it. And then there was this old bracelet.

I came to faith as a teenager in the Jesus movement, and I used to wear this as a statement of faith. I held it and remembered those early days of my walk with Jesus, and it brought tears to my eyes.  

And then something strange and a little sad occurred to me.  These old things lost enough of their importance to me that I just stored them in the attic. I stood there, remembering how I used to go through the boxes in the attic of my parents’ house when I was a child. All those things seemed so old and mysterious. Yet when my mom and dad died, we kept them for a while and eventually threw them away.

And one day, my kids will throw all this stuff away.

And that’s OK.

Everything gets old. Very little keeps its value forever.

But that’s why how we approach the new year matters so much.

Time is precious!

We don’t want to waste it on things that will only matter for a very short time. And we don’t have to!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come….Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬, ‭20‬ ‭

Jesus has made us new in a way that will never grow old! And so we can use every new day of the new year in a new way, a way that never wears out or gets stuck in an attic. 

We are ambassadors for a new King and His new Kingdom!  As you enter this new year, receive this word from God as your ambassadorial appointment.  Don’t just receive it as an interesting devotional thought. Receive it strategically! Ask God how He has gifted you, equipped you, positioned you and prepared you to be His ambassador. Where will you represent Him? To whom will you represent Him? How will you do it?

What thrilling questions! And nothing can take this away from you. No matter what you face in the year ahead, your appointment as His ambassador is a sure promise. 

Walk boldly into the new year and represent the King everywhere you go.  

The new year is full of mystery. For some of you perhaps full of anxiety or even fear.  But you are not without hope. You are not without purpose. And you are not alone  

And no matter what comes in the year ahead one day soon all of us who know Jesus will have even a greater newness.  Not just a new year but a new forever:

“And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”  Revelation 21:5

Until then, look back with thanksgiving, look to the horizon with unsurpassed expectation, and look just in front of you:  there you will see with the eyes of faith, the King holds out His hand to you and whispers to you, "Come with me, will you? A new adventure is just ahead.”

Written by John Avant