All Things New

"And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'

And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Revelation 21:5

I'm studying the book of Acts at a Bible study here in town, and last week we studied the conversion of Saul.  I started thinking less about the moment he was struck blind, and more about the time he spent in the darkness, and then the moment he could finally see again.  

It says in Acts 9, "Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing..."

Having not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul had heard the voice of Jesus.  God had sought him out, and Saul had a life altering encounter with the living God, all while his heart was in the darkest place.    After that moment, Saul got up, and though his eyes were opening, he could see nothing...

Apart from the Holy Spirit, people can encounter God, recognize his existence, but remain unchanged.

Then I started thinking about the moment he regained his sight. Once the scales fell from his eyes, Saul was a different person, a new man; Paul, God's chosen instrument.  It was like he hadn't just regained his sight, but was given brand new eyes by which to see the world.  Changed by the recognition that Jesus is Lord, and the filling of the Holy Spirit, Paul, a murderer and persecutor of Christians, would never be the same again.

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace

He makes all things new.

All things.

My biggest problem is that sin comes so naturally for me, and life is so fast paced, that I'm not even present enough in my own world to recognize in the moment when I'm doing something that grieves the Holy Spirit.  In this busy life, it's easy to tune Him out and just keep trucking along.  

I'm fighting to change that; to slow down, to be present and aware of the words that I speak or the thoughts that I have about things... holding steadfast to the belief that God really does make all things new, and that He desires to mold me more and more into the likeness of His Son if I would surrender my will, my time, my words, my actions, my attitude, for His.  

You restore the broken, You heal the sinner's heart

You make all things new, all things new

By the cross Your love was spoken, You even wore the scars

To make all things new, all things new

You release the chains

Of all my yesterdays

And I am not the same, Lord

You make all things new.