New Beginnings

Westhill Episcopal Church

Sunday 2^nd January 2005

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (Rev 21:1-5 NIV)

 

God Never Changes

In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. (Heb 1:10-12 NIV)

In a world of uncertainty and change we can be certain of one thing: God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He never changes. In the psalm we read earlier (Psalm 136) we repeated the phrase, “His love endures for ever.” He is a Rock that sits high above the storms of life. He is a Shelter and a Strong Tower. If we cling to Him, if we hide ourselves in Him, then nothing will be able to shake us.

God Makes Things New

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth. (Isa 42:9,10 NIV).

Although God never changes, He loves to make things new. He is a God of new beginnings. He loves to take what is broken and to restore it into something better than before. He loves to take those who are without hope and to give them an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade. One day He will change this sad old world and will make instead a new heaven and a new earth. Then all death, and sadness, crying and pain will be gone forever

 

We Shall Be Changed

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18 NIV)

God has a purpose for each one of us individually, and also for us corporately as a church in this community. God’s purpose always involves change. We cannot stay in the same place, resting on what God has done for us in the past. As Christians we are followers of Jesus, and following means going where He goes and doing what He says. Mary knew this, when Gabriel announced to her that she would give birth to the Christ. Her response was to say, “Let God’s purposes be fulfilled in me”. Let it be our resolve this year to follow closely at the heels of our Good Shepherd, listen daily for His voice to us, and echo this prayer of Mary, “Let God’s purposes be fulfilled in me.”

Steve Townsend 2 January 2005