New Things

Intro

I am a firm believer that God allows seasons and change in our lives for a reason. And, as we round out 2025, we can reflect on many of those seasons and changes in our lives and church.

I am thankful for the changes that God has allowed in my life and in this church this year.

However, if we are not careful, we can get caught up in the mindset that change is bad and that new things are not good!

I disagree.

I think newness makes room for reflection and reset as we talked about much this time last year.

The New Year brings about much room for that.

So, when thinking about what the Lord wanted me to preach today, a passage of Scripture popped into my head.

Revelation 21:1–8 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Change can be valuable, newness can be valuable, and, God is the maker of all things new.

This New Year, whether you set a resolution or not, I implore you, don’t start this new year the same way you did last year. Begin it anew in Christ.

New Perspective

Now, this message is not just for those who are unbelieving, this is for us all. For, as we live the Christian life, so often we find ourselves looking back and seeing a time when we were more passionate than we are now. If that is you this morning, don’t think of these points as “new” but as “renewed”

For example, first this morning, I encourage you with the Word to start 2026 with a New Perspective.

When we read Revelation 21, we can see what is happening. John is seeing a vision of the new heaven and new earth. He is seeing God, hearing God.

He is seeing the future for believers. He is seeing what God plans on doing.

But, why wait for the new heaven and new earth to begin seeing things through God’s eyes?

Begin now by viewing this life through the perspective of Jesus.

This all begins with your salvation. The latter part of this passage says, He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

So, a new perspective is reserved for God’s people. Those who are born again, made new in Christ.

Our View of Creation

What does this new perspective do? it changes the way we view things. First, it changed our view of creation.

It see’s the world and those in it the way that Jesus would, as people He died for, as His creation. And, this changes how we view those around us.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

It is hard to hate someone when you remember that Jesus love them, and if Jesus can love you, you can love them.

it is hard to disbelieve in a Divine Creator when you go outside and see all the handiwork of our Lord.

It is hard to live life believing in God without seeing things the way He does.

Our View of Suffering

A new perspective also changes our view of suffering.

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

When we view things in the light of Christ and His sufferings, ours begin to seem light.

And, too, when we view them in the true light that God has a plan for them, we can push through them much easier.

We can, like Job say

Job 1:21 “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Our View of Death

A change in perspective also changes our view of death.

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we are born again into the family of God, we cannot and should not fear or worry about death. The sting is removed from death, the victory stripped from the grave.

The finality of the funeral service dissipates when we remember Revelation 21, when we remember 1 Corinthians 15.

When we know exciting heaven awaits us, the our view of death changes and it turns into a cause for celebration!

When we allow God to make us new, our perspective is new, but so are our desires.

New Desires

Begin 2026 with the Lord and your desires will change.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The Lord supernaturally transforms you to desire the things after Him.

Maybe this morning your desires are slipping and need to be renewed.

One of the key signs of a Christian is the desire of their hearts.

Where are your desires this morning? Are they in God’s will or your own? Are they invested in the salvation of souls or your own comfort?

Are your desires for lust or purity?

Now, it is important to note that desire and temptation are two very different things. Our desires make up who we are, they are at the core of our being while temptations are the enemy trying to distract us with moments of weakness. Learn to discern the difference between the two.

It is also important to heart Paul’s words a few chapters before this.

Romans 7:15–20 “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

Basically, what Paul is telling us is that the enemy and the sinful desires of the flesh will naturally creep back into our lives, we have to make the choice to set our hearts, minds, and actions on the desires of God, not our flesh.

Allow God to make you new and you will receive new desires.

You will also receive a new home!

A New Home

Revelation 21:1–7 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

This is what awaits the follower of Jesus, the one who is made new in Christ.

As we talked about, a firm belief in this will allow you to look forward to heaven more and more and will allow the fear of death to leave you.

It will also challenge you to look at those around you who do not love the Lord, who are not made new, and see someone Jesus died for and someone worth your time and evangelistic efforts.

For listen to the alternative again.

Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

This is the reality of life.

Joshua 24:14–15 “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Choose today who you will serve. Allow God to make all things new in your life and you will receive, lastly this morning, a new life forever.

A New Life

The moment you decide to follow Jesus you receive a life brand new, one filled with the Holy Spirit, and this life is one that you will have for eternity.

How, though, do we receive a new life.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

Romans 3:10–18 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This is the way to the One who died for you. It is belief in Jesus as God. In His death burial and resurrection. It is recognition of your sin and guilt. Confession of your sin. Confession of Jesus as your Lord.

It is repentance.

It is the decision YOU make to turn away from your sin and follow Jesus. Your acceptance of forgiveness.

And here are the results.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Today is the day you receive new life.

Today is the day you allow God to make all things new.

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Conclusion

Revelation 21:1–8 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Are you ready for a new life?

Salvation plea

Do you need to a renewed perspective? Renewed desires? Come pray