Newness by Clint

You might laugh at me for this, but I am obsessed with the band, The Killers. I don't care what anybody says, they are the best band out right now, and I am confident in my musical tastes. Sidenote: I saw them live in Austin, and they were really good live, too. Anyways, because of my incessant listening, I had completely played out their last album, "Sam's Town," and it had found its way to the nether regions of my IPod. I was moving on to new horizons until I downloaded their album of B-Sides called "Sawdust." It's all I play in my car right now. I know, though, that in about five days, I'll start playing out this album, too, and I'll get sick of it. It's funny how that happens. It can be with food, music, books, even activities. When we latch on to something we tend to overuse it, and it gets old, quick. And it's kind of sad when that moment of realization hits when you know something you love has just lost some of its magic. Scripture tells us that eternal life is in no way like this. Eternal life and the glory of God never get old. A close reading of the book of Revelation speaks to the limitless glory and beauty of being in God's presence: "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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then 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 water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children (NASV Revelation 21:1-7)." The kicker of this passage for me is, "See, I am making all things new." 'Making' is in the present tense, telling us that dwelling with God is constant newness. He will continue to renew and continue to give life. Being in God's presence and dwelling with Him will never get old. We are so used to things getting old, though. We are so accustomed to relationships that turn sour, hobbies that lose their intrigue, and passions that fizzle out, that it is extremely hard to wrap our minds around the concept of constant newness. Trust that God can give that constant newness that is eternal life. Know that our worship now is to be a reflection of our hope for dwelling with our Creator. The challenge is to find newness in worship and let that integrate into all other aspects of your life. So, when you download that next song on iTunes and it gets old, be reminded that our songs and praises in God's presence never will.