“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Rev. 21: 1-5a, ESV)
“Behold I am making all things new.” These words have been on my mind a lot lately.
Not just because it’s January 2026. Where did the last quarter of a century go??!!
Not just because I’m sitting here with a Diet Coke and Hint of Lime Tostitos and wondering when I will sustain the new thing of NOT eating/drinking them that much. But because the Christian Scriptures are full of God doing new things. The new thing of Love coming to dwell with us through the birth and life of Christ that we celebrate at Christmas and all year long. The new heavens and new earth mentioned in Revelation that we often long for. The Book of Isaiah is full of messages from God about making all things new even when at the time things were in chaos. Perhaps they’ve been on my mind because of all the things that aren’t right in the world around us. I have a desire for so many things to be healed, restored and made new. I hope for things to be better in this world.
It is true that there is uncertainty, unexpected change, and knowledge that ‘things aren’t right’ within us and around us.
But it is TRUTH that God dwells with us. Hope is real. God desires to work with us to bring about growth, healing and restoration in our own hearts (thought/behaviors), in our work, and in the world around us. Not only does God desire this, but it is a promise. Scripture tells us our God is at work restoring and healing. Not just in the past, not just in the future, but NOW. In you. In me. In Baruch. In our world.
Stay open to God changing us in ways that heal and create us to be the best versions of ourselves, the people we were born into this world to be. Happy New Year!
Chaplain Karen