All Things New

Introduction/Tension

Does the statement “God will make all things new” make a difference to your life?

In the last week would that statement have changed anything in your life, or changed the way you live at all?

When you were at work, plugging away at your job, stuck in meetings, would that BIBLICAL promise have changed anything in your life?

Or while you were taking care of your small children, chasing them around the house trying to get them to obey.

Would it have changed anything while you were scrolling Instagram or hanging out with your friends?

My guess is probably not.

It would not have changed much not because it isn’t true, nor because it isn’t good.

It would not have changed much in your life because you’re a terribly horrible person that has no love for God.

I’m confident that this statement - this grand promise and truth - would have not moved the needle in your life in a deep way because you probably don’t have a longing built up in your life for it to be true.

I mean - it’s a powerful promise. God will make all things new.

But do you really have a desire for that to be true? Do you have a vision of what that could mean in your future?

The things that we desire are the things that end up getting our attention, our focus, our energy, and our aspirations.

Desire motivates change.

Without a real desire for God to make all things new, we won’t live in light of that future reality.

We won’t see change now if we don’t desire a future where God makes all things new.

This morning, as we look at Revelation 21:1-8 I want to help you “desire the kingdom”

I want you to long for a better land, a better country.

I am going to equip you, from these eight verses, to build desire in your life.

These verses are a bit of a movie trailer type ending - a true story trailer to help build desire in our hearts:

Three practices to building desire for God to make all things new that brings change in your life:

See the new reality (Rev 21:1-2)

Starting back in Rev 19:11, John has written a section with seven “I saw” statements in them.

Here in 21:1 we come to the final vision of the section and it points us to the conclusion and resolution of the book of Revelation.

John sees

Revelation 21:1 ESV

1 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.

John sees everything completely new. EVERYTHING

New Heavens - New Earth!

Here’s the powerful conclusion to the story. God is making all things new.

He is bringing a new reality - a new universe!

Why is this new heavens and earth there? Because the first heaven and earth had passed away.

Now don’t think of this so much of as the annihilation and destruction of the first heavens and earth, but a recreation and remaking of reality.

At the conclusion of Revelation the reality is that heaven and earth are not split, but that heaven and earth are one - all things new.

The word that John uses here for “new” is a word that emphasized qualitative newness rather than new in the sense of experience or time.

Paul used similar language in 2 Cor 5:17 talking about a person’s life when becoming a follower of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The person is still the person, but there is a qualitative newness about that person.

So the heavens and earth, the universe, is still the newness but there is a brilliant and gloriousness freshness and reality to it.

The old has passed away.

One of the clues about this newness of quality is found in the subsequent line, “and the sea was no more.”

My mom used to be real sad about that phrase because she loved going to the beach when we lived in North Carolina and was disappointed to think that there would not be any more sunny days at the ocean.

I don’t believe that is what is implied - that the new heavens and new earth will be without beach days.

John in drawing on OT language and themes in Revelation that has presented the sea as the place of chaos and evil.

The beast in Revelation 13 came up from the sea.

The sea is the representation of everything evil and rebellious and opposed to God’s order.

But no more! No more evil, chaos, rebellion.

All things new.

That’s not all we’re called to see.

We see a city!

Revelation 21:2 ESV

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

From heaven to earth comes this holy, brilliant, renewed community.

Compared to a bride prepared for her husband on a wedding day.

This is a vision not so much of a place - but of a people… the church!

God’s people are a new creation - made new by him and they are made to inhabit this new heaven and earth.

We’re getting a glimpse in at the eternal existence and nature of God’s people!

This is kind of Back the Future stuff in the other direction.

What if I told you that your future self is going to be amazing!

Your future life is going to be incredible.

It’ll be far beyond the best existence you can imagine or hope for.

You’ll be the best best best version of yourself, and you’ll like it! (So will everyone else)

One of the things I’m nervous about as I age is becoming a curmudgeonly old man.

I already feel the tendency in my heart to be the guy that retorts to kids “get off lawn” or “get a haircut and a real job” kinds of things.

But my future is incredibly bright. My ultimate destiny is not to be that cranky old guy.

And if you are in Christ - it’s not your destiny either.

Which mean, we can today seek to be more like Jesus, more gentle, more patient, more full of joy…

Why??? Because if you watch the trailer and see your new reality you will recognize that is not who you become!

Your future, in Christ, is incredibly bright.

And if we keep reminding ourselves of that, and remember that future day when God will make all things new.

If we keep “seeing the new reality” — it’ll make us eager for that reality, desire that day, and change will happen.

The first practice that builds desire for God to make all things new is to see that new reality - see!

A second is to listen…

Hear about our new home (Rev 21:3-5a)

John tells us further what happened, this time no so much seeing as much as hearing.

This is the exposition of what our new home will be like.

Revelation 21:3–4 ESV

3 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. 4 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.”

Listen up to what this glorious city of God will be like!

Verse 3 is the promise of God with us forever.

There will be complete reconciliation and joyful relationship forever.

I mean, this sounds like paradise!

The echo back to Eden is so strong here.

We will be in perfect harmony and unity with God - he as our God, our provider, protector, desire, hope, joy, friend, king, and lover.

Everything will be right as it was created, and redeemed, to be with God.

God will dwell with us.

Furthermore, verse 4, states that he will make all things right.

His compassion will extend to wiping every tear from our eyes.

His love abounds to canceling and destroying death.

We will never mourn or grieve the loss of someone or something ever again.

There will be no crying in anguish, pain, and sorrow.

The aches, pains, hurts, both physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually will be gone too.

The former things - the stuff of sin and sorrow and evil and hatred and war and death and destruction ALL GONE!

And this is authoritatively offered!

Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

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

Friends, this is day that is coming!

One of the key things that makes the Disney parks so successful is the promise and invitation of going to “the happiest place on earth”

The marketing on Disney parks is incredible. They want you to know how great of a time you will have there.

I found a blogger who wrote about “9 reasons why Disney World is the Happiest Place on Earth”

You forget about your worries

There’s four different parks

You get to meet your favorite characters

Thrilling rides

Magical parades

Living in the fairy tale

Shopping

The food

The amazing fireworks

Now that’s pretty good advertising and a sales pitch…

And when you hear about that all, especially if you’ve experienced a bit of Disney in your life before, you can be very eager to visit and go to the happiest place on earth.

In the same way, and to a greater degree, we need to get into our ears and our hearts the better and superior reality of the New Heavens and Earth!

It’s not that you forget about your worries for a few hours, but they they come back after you leave - they are lifted FOREVER.

You’re in a new universe to explore and enjoy FOREVER - endless delight

You don’t just get to meet the main character - you are WITH HIM FOREVER

Everything is joy, delight, bliss, paradise

It’s not a fairytale - it’s reality.

How would you live your life today if that future is true and real?

Won’t it change your values, your priorities, your perspectives??

But you won’t desire that day if you don’t have it in your ears.

This is where I’m afraid we are too busy consuming the stories and perspectives and realities of this world.

We’re been spiritual numbed to the reality of a glorious future that we forget about it!

We’re being told that you should live and pursue your best life NOW, because there is nothing more than this.

We’re being dulled with offerings of pleasure, power, possessions, even a false peace for the here and now by our intake of the narratives of this world that we are not listening to the voice of God saying the better, greater, true reality home is coming.

We’re investing in this world like this is our home instead of investing in the kingdom of God because it the believers Home.

Friends, shut your ears to the siren calls of this world and LISTEN to the glory of your future home!

We won’t desire God to make all things new if we don’t see the new reality, and hear about the better home!

But there’s one final and necessary practice, we must…

Receive the promised Word (Rev 21:5b-8)

I can tell you about how great a place, or experience, or relationship is and how much you would enjoy it

But you won’t enjoy and experience it if you don’t take me up on my words.

So Jesus’ words to us through John contain an invitation that we need to act on.

He tells John to write this down, put it in the book.

What he says is absolutely trustworthy and true.

Unlike Disney that is selling a product that ultimately doesn’t deliver on all that it promises, Jesus’ words are so solid you can bank your entire life on them.

His words are sure because of who he is (v. 6)

Revelation 21:6 ESV

6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

What he has spoken will happen - no doubt!

Why, because he is the Alpha and Omega - a title used for God

The beginning and the end - the author and perfecter of all things.

From start to finish—Jesus!

Now here’s the question - do you want this all things new, forever with God, kingdom and paradise???

Jesus says, I’ll give it to you… freely!

“To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”

Thirst is desire… it’s need.

If you are spiritually hungry and thirsty, and needy… Jesus invites you to come to him.

He’s just saying the same thing the entire Bible has said:

Isaiah 55:1 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55:3 ESV

3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

You can get in on the same steadfast, enduring, never-ending, covenant love God has for David...

All you have to do is come to Jesus!

Turn from the empty and deceitful promises of sin and this world, and come to Jesus as your only hope and satisfaction.

And then he makes a promise.

Revelation 21:7 ESV

7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

This challenge isn’t a way of saying, you can earn this bright future.

Those who come to Jesus as weak, thirsty, needy desiring him and his kingdom will conquer!

NT Scholar Tom Schreiner put it this way:

Hebrews–Revelation Comment

Eternal life is free, but those who receive it freely also conquer. The gift received empowers those who drink freely to overcome

There is encouragement for those who come to Christ to persevere in this life. Keep going, keep trusting, keep hoping.

Continue to pursue Christ, and holiness, and his grace.

The conquerors are those who hope and depend on Christ.

And the reward is God himself, “I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Adoption and inheritance in God’s family is for all those who will come and rest their life on Christ.

This is the summation and culmination of all of the promises and covenants of God!

All you have to do is come to Christ!

That’s how we act on, or receive the promised Word.

Verse 8 is a warning for those who might turn away from the invitation and promise.

If you don’t receive Jesus’ word, and repent and turn to him, you won’t get in on this eternal joy and forever paradise.

You will experience hell forever.

Revelation 21:8 ESV

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Those who turn away, who abandon, who live in evil.

Those who break God’s law, act as God, worship false Gods and pervert and distort the truth won’t have a heritage with God,

Their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur - the second death.

Eternal, conscience torment will be their heritage.

This writing is to clearly lay out the path.

Why head to destruction, death, and eternal hell when life is offered to you?

Friends you may desire no pain, no suffering, no hell

You may long for some vision of heaven that you have in your heart and mind.

But if you do not receive Jesus’ words, and receive Jesus himself, there will be no joy and paradise for you.

Your desire must turn to action!

Conclusion

Jesus offers himself freely to anyone who will come.

You may read verse 8 and find yourself there - cowardly or faithless, or even a liar.

The good news is that Jesus became a human being for the cowardly and faithless and sexually immoral and liars.

He came and lived the perfect sinless life we couldn’t - in our place.

He suffered as a sinner, even though he was not one, by taking our place on the cross and dying for our sins.

He overcame in the resurrection and offers himself to everyone who will turn to him.

Do you have Jesus as yours? Have you trusted his work on your behalf? Have you banked your life on his promises and his word?

He’s the only way to experience all things new!

So let’s build our desire for the new heavens and earth

Let’s see that reality - and live for it

Let’s hear about our new home - and be eager in pursing it

Let’s receive the promise Word - and by faith believe and trust in Jesus!

Our future in Christ is incredibly bright - so let’s eagerly desire for God to make all things new!