Deacon Steve Yanish
In the twenty-first chapter of Revelation we read, “and the One who sits on the throne declared “Behold, I am making all things new.”
When we enter into a brand new part of our lives, we may tend to look ahead and make plans for this adventure. We may question what may be in store for us. How will things be different? How will they be the same? We may look back and be pleased with we’ve accomplished in the past 12 months. We may look back and breathe a sigh of relief that it is in the past.
The idea of all things being made new can be exciting and encouraging or it may be scary and threatening. Normally, new is good. Normally, new means potential for advancement and gain. Normally, new means happiness or a sense of well-being. Sometimes new may mean different, challenging and unknown. Whatever emotions arise in our hearts and minds, we can take great confidence and trust in the fact that our loving and true God has a plan for each one of us. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
As trusting followers, we can securely place our hope in God. God is the epitome of old and new. Everything God does is good and perfect. We can trust that this New Year will bring good news with it. As trusting followers, we believe that Jesus Christ will come back for us one day and make all things new. When Jesus walked the earth he lived a ministry of restoring people and things to new life. He restores the sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and the ability to walk to the crippled and new skin to the diseased. He even raised his friend Lazarus to new life!Jesus restored hope to people with broken hearts and finally died on that Holy Cross that we might have life, and have it to the fullest.
With all of this in mind, it seems we ought to enter this new year with grateful, praising hearts knowing that God is in charge. All we are asked to do is trust.
Deacon Steve is a retired deacon of the St. Cloud Diocese.